• Nigeria seeks Brazil's biotech aid to boost stagnant cotton output.
• MoU targets tech transfer, pest resistance, and seed trials for growth.
• Textile industry revival hinges on increased local cotton supply.

On August 25, during President Bola Tinubu's state visit to Brazil, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nigeria and Brazil, focusing on science, technology, and innovation. Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, announced on August 28 that this partnership aims to bolster the cotton industry through biotechnology cooperation and agricultural technology transfer.

The minister announced Nigeria's intention to collaborate with Brazil, leveraging its expertise in optimizing crop cycles, developing pest resistance, conducting seed performance trials, and sharing research data from the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (ABRAPA) with Nigerian institutions (NABDA, NASRDA, and ECN) to foster adaptation and innovation within the country.

Brazil currently stands as the world's third-largest cotton producer, behind India and China, with an estimated output of 3.7 million tonnes in 2024/2025. Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that 99% of this production utilizes GMO crops.

Imperative for Nigeria's Sector

The primary challenge for Nigeria is to enhance the productivity of its cotton sector, which has largely stagnated over the past decade despite the adoption of GMO cotton since 2018. Data from the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS) shows that Nigeria's seed cotton production was approximately 303,000 tonnes in 2008, nearly identical to the 304,000 tonnes estimated for 2024. Furthermore, the government's stated ambition to revive the local textile industry could create a demand for cotton that the Nigerian sector is already struggling to meet.

For instance, in July, Ogun State partnered with Arise IIP, a pan-African industrial park developer and operator, for a $2 billion textile garment factory project. This facility is projected to have a production capacity of 4.4 million garments per day. This development follows the April 2025 announcement of the government's decision to establish a regulatory body for the textile industry.

Major cotton-producing regions in Nigeria, including Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kebbi, are predominantly located in the northern part of the country.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum