RID LAB urges adoption of data-driven farming to reduce agricultural losses, ensure sustainability, and protect food systems in Nigeria

RID LAB urges data-driven farming as the future of agriculture, calling on government, regulators, and farmers to prioritise diagnostic and science-based practices for improved productivity and public health.

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Speaking at the All Farmers Business Meeting 2.0 held in Lagos on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of RID LAB, Femi Dairo, highlighted that accurate diagnosis before treatment is essential for reducing farm losses and preserving food systems.

“Diagnosis is not an afterthought but the backbone of modern agriculture,” Dairo said. “Without proper diagnostic support, we cannot achieve sustainability or safeguard public health.”

He urged the government to establish enabling policies that mandate diagnostic testing before agricultural treatments are administered, likening it to the medical sector where diagnosis precedes prescription.

Dairo also called on regulators like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify action against the misuse of antibiotics and promote compliance among agricultural laboratories.

Delivering a keynote on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Olorunfemi Oniyide, stressed that accurate data is vital to ensure farming success.

“Farming decisions must be driven by facts and figures, not guesswork,” Oniyide said. “We’re committed to building systems that rely on diagnosis, capacity building, and responsible medicine use.”

She warned that the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance, which poses a growing risk to food security and human health.

The Managing Director of Rid-Agric. Ltd., Adewunmi Dairo, echoed the firm’s mission to integrate data science into agriculture.

“Turning data into profit captures the heart of why we are here today,” she said. “Agriculture must move from assumptions to facts.”

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She praised government and regulatory partners for backing initiatives that empower agribusinesses and enhance sustainability through innovation and policy reforms.