Survival of RP agriculture depends on biotechnology

The survival of Philippine agriculture depends considerably on biotechnology, it was asserted by the top official of a Los Baños-based research council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

"For Philippine agriculture to survive and be competitive in this present world order, the country would have to increase and sustain production of high quality, low-cost agricultural products amid a rapidly decreasing land area resource through the processes of biotechnology research and development (R&D)," stressed Dr. Patricio S. Faylon.

Faylon is executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), DOST's sectoral planning body that coordinates, evaluates, and monitors agriculture, forestry and natural resources research in the country.

The PCARRD official batted for biotechnology in a speech at the recent 13th National Rice R&D Review convened by the Muñoz, Nueva Ecija-based Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).

Biotechnology has been defined as "any technique that uses living organisms or their parts to make or modify products to improve plants and animals, or to develop substances for specific issues."

Dr. Mariechiel Navarro of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) expounded on biotechnology thus:

"Scientists are using biotechnology to introduce better crops, trees, livestock, fish as well as food and health products. It will be used not only to assure rice on the table, but much more in agriculture, marine, environment and health."

In his main speech at the Rice R&D Review at PhilRice, Faylon asserted: "Biotechnology and the strict adherence to the principles of precautionary measures are certainly an extremely important component of the menu of answers that is needed to respond to growing concerns on food production for an expected population explosion in the future, amid a depleted natural resource base and deteriorating environmental conditions."

The PCARRD executive director averred further: "Biotechnology offers the opportunity to identify the value inherent in nature, and use this to meet expanding demand for nutrition and health in a way that preserves the environment. Many experts believe that it will not be possible to feed future world population while at the same time protecting the natural environment, until the full potential of biotechnology has been realized in world agriculture."

He also lauded the biotechnology thrust of PhilRice, the DA's rice research arm headed by Executive Director Santiago R. Obien.

He said that the country has witnessed PhilRice's 15 years of achievements not only in revitalizing rice production but also in upholding the principles of sustainable agriculture toward the country's food security.