Some scientists from the Imo State University and Claretian University of Nigeria have described phytobiotechology as the cheapest and safest means of mitigating global climate change, food insecurity and mental health challenges.
The scientists stated this recently during a three-day First International Conference and Workshop on “Phytobiotechology Applications in Climate Change Mitigation” in Abuja.
Chairman International Society for Phytobiotechnology and Public Health and Fellow African Institute for Public Health, Professor Kenneth Anchang Yangadi, described phytobiotechology as the cheapest and safest means of mitigating global climate change, food insecurity and mental health challenges.
He said phytobiotechnology involves using green materials from the environment without modifying them through genetic engineering.
He noted that the goal is to understand plants better, unlock their potential, and package them in a way that is effective without interfering with their natural existence.
Professor Yangadi said: “Today’s event is, exploiting phytobiotechnology to address climate change impact, climate change problems globally. To a layman, this is a technology where you exploit available green materials from your environment. You understand these green materials, you understand the uses of these green materials, bring them together without changing the nature of the plants. You are not modifying anything like what is opposed to genetic engineering. You are not changing any compound or transforming it in a way that is not agreeable with nature or with its natural existence. That is phytobiotechology.”
He added that everyone depends on plants for food, medicine, clothing and Nigeria has an abundance of medicinal plants that are not being maximised.
He believes that scientists need to properly understand and package plant medicine so it meets global standards without isolating compounds like synthetic medicine does.
Professor Yangadi said: “I’m sure there’s no one on earth who doesn’t use plants either as food, medicine, cloth, or what have you. So we all depend on plants. And phyto, the word phyto, that prefix means what? Plants, right? So the benefit of this technology now is that we now have knowledge of how to package this plant, how to pick out, bring out the potential that are hidden in the plant that we are not seeing, and how to put it in such a way that it can give us the best result.”
