EMERGING BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN THE PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF COCOA AND PALM PRODUCE IN NIGERIA

The potential of biotechnology, nowadays, has appeared enormous across the globe. Biotechnology has led to many scientific developments and technological applications for recyclable products in agriculture and other practical processes of manipulation and exploitation of living m aterials. This study thus looks into the state of the art in the appli cation of biotechnology, especially new biotechnologies, in relation t o the production and processing of cocoa and oil palm in Nigeria. Desp ite the immense biotechnological benefits derived worldwide, Nigeria h as not exploited this frontier of knowledge for economic development. Strategies and policy measures for building biotechnological capabilit y are prescribed for proper implementation of techniques to improve th e production and processing of cocoa and palm produce in the country.