Nigeria has become the first countryin the world to approve biotech cowpea, thereby adding a new biotech crop tothe global biotech basket. This is according to the GlobalStatus of Commercialised Biotech/Genetically Modified Crops in 2018, ISAAABrief 54, and release by the International Service for the Acquisition ofAgri-biotech Applications, ISAAA. The Nigeria Science Cafe and launchis of Brief 54, in a report released on Global Status of CommercialisedBiotech/Genetically Modified Crops event in Abuja. The release which was signed by theDirector ISAAA AfriCentre in Kenya, Margaret Karembu showed that Africa hascontinued to make steady progress in the adoption of biotech crops. The ISAAA AfriCentre Directorpraised Nigeria’s progress in biotech crop development and adoption, notingthat the country was leading in agricultural technology approvals enabled by anefficient bio safety system.