Biotech coalition launched to eradicate poverty, promote food security

A broad-based multi-sectoral coalition advocating the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology was launched last week at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

Called the Biotechnology Conference of the Philippines, the group aims to influence government policies on biotechnology at the national and local levels and help achieve the national goals of food sufficiency, improved public health and a better environment

Led by scientist Dr. Benigno Peczon, BCP president, the group presented its mission and objectives and a statement of principles. One of these principles is the need for a national policy and regulatory framework for biotech products that will be sensitive to the needs and requirements of the various sectors. The concerns of the various sectors need to be assessed and responded to, but must be done in a rational, objective, transparent and scientific manner, Dr. Peczon said.

Other resource persons at the press conference were Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former UP president and chair man FAO Technical Advisory Committee, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and Dr. Nina Gloriani Barzaga, director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, UP Manila. Both Drs. Javier and Barzaga are members of the BCP.

Biotechnology has been identified as a major strategy to increase the country’s food supply and for offering effective health solutions to erstwhile solutionless health problems. Foreign biotech experts, among them John Alexander of the United States Department of Agriculture, have said the Philippines can become a leader in biotechnology in the Asian region if local scientists start boosting research and development now.

Biotechnology will allow the country to address the local food problem via the production of better quality and more nutritious crop varieties, specially of rice and corn, with higher yields at affordable prices. It will also enable the production of new varieties of fruits or vegetables that are better tasting and have longer shelf life, leading to increased viability in local and world markets.

For biotechnology to fully contribute to national development efforts, the BCP said there must be sufficient public and private monies for research and development, enlightened public support, adequate protection for intellectual property rights; technology transfer to the private sector and target beneficiaries; encouragement of the responsible and safe application of biotechnology; accessibility and availability of biotech products to all, especially the marginalized sectors of society; and appropriate policy support. A dynamic, unfettered but objective exchange of information about biotech should also prevail among government, the science community and the general public.

Food safety issues, health innovations, the socio-economic impact of biotechnology, commercialization guidelines for GMOs, labeling of GMO products and property rights were discussed at the launch.

Members of the BCP board of directors are expected to be elected within the month to implement BCP’s program of action, which include, among others, the setting up of a BCP e-group that would serve as a dynamic avenue of discussion about biotech and its contributions to national development.