Aiming for sustainable development

The rapidly growing adoption of biotechnology in many parts of the world provides a bright spot for the government’s avowed policy of creating and maintaining " sustainable and safe environment."

In June last year, President Arroyo underscored this bid – and hope – in the Policy Statement on Modern Biotechnology, which she signed and issued.

In the statement, Arroyo expressed optimism that modern biotechnology "will provide farmers and fisherfolks the opportunity to increase their overall productivity and income, enhance the welfare of consumers, promote efficiency, competitiveness and improved quality of local industries.

The ultimate objective, according to Arroyo, is "attaining safety and sustainable development, including its human, social and environmental aspects".

The optimistic outlook on the prospects of a safer environment is boosted by the ability of biotechnology to produce plants that are naturally resistant to specific types of insects and other pests.

Dr. Evelyn Mae Tecson Mendoza, member of the country’s National Academy of Science and Technology, said "modern biotechnology has provided breeders with new tools in improve traits of crops in a more precise manner".

Global agricultural research leader Monsanto, for example, has developed a corn variety that is naturally highly resistance to corn borers even as it provides farmers with higher yield with less insecticide application. The variety is now being tested in the country.

According to Mendoza, the adoption of plant and plant products that went through the biotechnology processes "has been phenomenal".

"From 1.7 million hectares in 1997, some 44 million hectares in 2001 has already been planted with (biotechnology processed) crops," she said.

Mendoza also cited the improved nutritional quality, tolerance drought and higher yield features of such plants.

An old process

Mendoza defines biotechnology as "any biology-based process which uses organisms or their parts to make or modify products or improve plants, animals or microorganisms".

The technology is actually not that new.

Mendoza said "Filipinos have used biotechnology techniques in producing wine, patis, cheese and bread".

"Advances in science and technology have made it possible for new biotechnologies to be developed and applied in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment," she added.

Mendoza reported that as of last year, some 14 countries have already been commercially growing biotechnology-processed plants.

Among these are the US, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina in the western hemisphere.

In Asia, China is already growing these types of plants in a commercial scale.

Indonesia has planted some 10,000 hectares with the popular Bt-cotton variety, while a corn variety known as Yieldgard is being tested in the Philippines by Monsanto.

Pro-environment features

The rising popularity of biotechnology-processed crops is also due to their tremendous benefit to the environment.

For example, Monsanto used biotechnology to develop plants that are naturally highly resistant to specific insects and other plants pests.

Monsanto government and public affairs director Noel Borlongan said the use of Yieldgard in the US significantly lowered the number of insecticide applications in year 2000.

"That does not only mean hundreds of millions of dollars in savings for the corn farmers, but also a tremendous respite from chemicals both for the soil and human beings," he pointed out.

"Most important, US farmers saved a considerable amount from less insecticide use – money which went directly to their pocket," Borlongan explained.

Similar benefits in yield and savings from decreased insecticide use are also expected to redound to Filipino corn farmers.

Indonesia has taken the lead in Asia in the commercialization of the highly insect-resistant Bt-cotton variety.

Its farm tests showed that Bt-cotton outperformed its local varieties. As a result, some 10,000 hectares of Indonesia’s corn farms are now planted with the variety. Most of the commercial growing is taking place in South Sulawesi.

In the Philippines, support for the commercialization of Bt-corn has gathered increasing support.

Among its supporters is Isabela Governor Faustino Dy Jr., chief executive of the northern Luzon province, which now looms as the region’s next important breadbasket. Monsanto is testing the corn variety in three sites in Dy’s province.

In a meeting with mayors of Isabela, Dy warned saboteurs against disrupting the field testing of the Bt-corn variety. He urged farmers to allow the testing to be completed so that any decision on the variety may be based on scientific data.

Dy said his support for the project is in line with his vision of transforming Isabela into a major food basket for Northern Luzon.

Isabela is basically an agricultural province; we must therefore maximize the yield potential of every inch of available agricultural land, Dy said.

Leaders of the influential Roman Catholic Church has also expressed support for continuing local research on biotechnology.

The high respected Bishop of the Diocese of Sorsogon, Jesus Varela, publicly expressed support for biotechnology methods.

"God gave man dominion over creation to develop and improve it, "Varela said. He pointed out that biotechnology could help "put more food on the table".

The influential bishop told his audience that the vilification campaign against biotechnology "is a mere propaganda war". He said that biotechnology was already being used since centuries before Christ.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Teodoro Bacani advised government "not to wait until all information (on biotechnology research) are in before taking action".

"Otherwise, human progress might stop," Bacani said.

Presidential Adviser on agriculture and job creation Luis Lorenzo has also backed the adoption of biotechnology in the country.

"Agriculture cannot remain a resource-based sector; it must move on to become a technology-based endeavor if we are to meet the food requirements of our people," Lorenzo said.