Abuja: Mr. Opeyemi Elujulo, Founder of Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), has warned that large-scale industrial farming could create serious health and environmental problems in Nigeria. Elujulo, who also serves as the Executive Director of YARN, issued this warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Elujulo highlighted that such industrial farming practices are being promoted by JBS Foods International. He emphasized the need for Nigeria to thoroughly examine JBS's global track record before considering its investment proposals. The Brazilian meat packer JBS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria for a $2.5 billion investment, which involves the establishment of six new factories. The agreement outlines that three factories will produce poultry, two will produce beef, and one will produce pork. The deal also includes a five-year investment plan that covers feasibility studies, budget estimates, and a local supply chain development programme.
Elujulo pointed out that JBS, recognized as the world's largest meat processor, has been associated globally with issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and extensive environmental pollution. He noted that wherever large corporations like JBS operate, they often leave behind polluted water, degraded land, and health risks, ranging from respiratory issues to antimicrobial resistance due to chemical use in industrial livestock systems.
He expressed concerns that such farming models could displace smallholder farmers by competing for essential resources like land and water, ultimately consolidating food system control in the hands of multinational companies. Addressing the potential impact on young farmers if Nigeria rejects JBS's investment, Elujulo argued that Nigerian youths are increasingly embracing agriculture through agroecology, which is a sustainable system that reduces costs and reliance on imported inputs.
Drawing from his personal experience, Elujulo recounted how he initially rejected agriculture as a career path but was inspired to change his perspective after being introduced to agroecology. For the past eight years, he has been actively promoting sustainable farming both nationally and internationally. He emphasized that young Nigerians should not be enticed by unsustainable industrial models but should instead be equipped with agroecology skills that minimize costs and reliance on imported seeds and chemicals.
Elujulo cautioned that industrial meat plants could impose hidden costs, including waste management, health monitoring, and environmental remediation, arguing that exposure to industrial models would only perpetuate dependence on imported inputs. He stressed that the short-term promise of jobs and food security offered by such models is not worth the long-term pollution and health burdens they bring. Instead, he urged building resilience rather than vulnerability.
The youth advocate called on the government to support smallholder farmers, reinforce sustainable practices, and resist foreign-led industrial models that have left harmful legacies in other regions.