Philippines may lose regional biotech leader status

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may lose its status of being a biotechnology leader in the region given continued delays in application process, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

In its latest report, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said, local biosafety application rocess is taking an extended amount of time under current regulations, embodied in the Joint Departmental Circular (JDC) of 2016.

“There have been no reported trade disruptions so far, but the resulting delays in application processing may gradually erode this leadership status,” USDA said.

The Philippines remains a regional biotechnology leader, having been the first Asian country to allow the planting of a genetically engineered (GE) corn in 2003 and is moving forward on a regulatory framework for GE animals.

A change in GE plant regulations as embodied in Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8 to the JDC in April 2016 has resulted in the slow processing of biosafety applications.

Data showed that GE corn is now planted in about 5.9 million hectares in the country from only 10,800 hectares since its introduction in 2003.

From April 2016 to March 2017, GE corn was planted on an estimated 655,000 hectares, relatively flat compared to the previous year’s level.

“Support for GE products remains strong among local corn farmers, hog and poultry raisers, feed millers, food processors, academe, and other end users,” USDA said.

Biotechnology crops are seen to be the more lasting solution to food hunger problems, as they are capable of doubling food production amid a projected surge in global population to reach nine billion by 2050.