Use of GM crops likely to increase - BPI

MANILA, Philippines - The number of genetically-modified (GM) crops with stacked traits will increase in time as more farmers opt for them.

According to Dr. Clarito Barron, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), 70 percent of farmers using GM corn are already propagating crops with double traits, and the use of three or four stacked traits may not be far off.

Barron confirmed that the BPI has reviewed and approved 67 transformation events, eight of which have applied for propagation.

A scientific and technical review panel (STRP) that will do the assessment has been augmented to hasten the process.

Barron assured that the BPI’s regulatory process would continue to be covered by Administrative Order No. 8, which implements the guidelines for importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived using modern biotechnology.

Commercialization of Bacillus thuringensis (Bt) corn continues, he admitted.

He cited the fact that dominant GM crop with enhanced kernels has raised farmers’ yields and incomes while reducing the rate of soil erosion.

BPI records showed that among those reviewed for direct use as food and feed or for processing were corn MON88017, soybean 45547-127, corn TC1507x corn NK603, cotton 15985 x RRFlex cotton (MON88913) and corn MON 88017 x Corn MON81.

Corn MON89034 x corn NK603 has been approved for propagation.

For field-testing, the BPI identified the agronomic performance of transgenic corn (zea mays L.) line TC1507 and hybrid staked TC1507 x Mon 810 x NK603.

BPI has also inspected and validated the proposed field trial sites for Syngenta’s corn MIR 162 and Bt11 x MIRR162 x GA21, the Cotton Development Authority’s (CODA) Bt cotton and the field trial of Golden Rice developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI.)

Barron said BPI has also been monitoring Bt eggplant and Pioneer’s TC 1507 multi-location field trials and confined trial of Golden Rice and Bt cotton.

To guarantee fairness, Barron said BPI continues to support the formulation of polices and guidelines on biosafety and biotechnology such as the insect resistance management (IRM), the Cartegena Protocol, low-level presence, risk assessment and liability and redress.

He noted that there would always be some parties resisting the propagation of GMO crops.

“In order for them to be appeased, we have to be transparent and we do this by holding dialogues with them, doing consultation work and meeting them to clarify issues,” Barron said.

For one, BPI has advised the Bt eggplant proponents to stop field testing the first GMO vegetable in Asia in areas that do not want them.

However, field-testing continues in Bicol, Cotabato, Pangasinan and Los Banos in Laguna.

Apart from corn, BPI listed among GMO applications for soy beans, potatoes, cotton, alfalfa, canola and sugar beet. – Biolife News Service