Philippine Seed Industry Association, Inc. Status of the Biotechnology Industry More than 58 million hectares of global farmland were planted with biotechnology crops in 2002, with the United States accounting for 66% of total 2002 global hectarage planted in biotechnology crops. Argentina ranks as the second largest producer, accounting for 23% of 2002 global biotechnology crop acreage, followed by Canada (6%) and China (4%), South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Bulgaria, Uruguay, Romania, Spain, Indonesia, Germany, and France, among others, each accounted for less than 1% of global biotechnology crop acreage in 2002. Other countries such as Japan, Russia, Honduras, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and India have adopted biotechnology as means of increasing their agricultural productivity. With the facts and figures mentioned above, current trends indicate that the use of biotechnology crops in the world continues to increase. The application of biotechnology has provided opportunities and options to small farmers as well as agriculture and food industries to enhance product yield and quality by reducing the use of insecticides in farms. The utilization of biotechnology has assured better income to farmers and food producers, both small and large. Biotechnology in the Philippines Section 3 of Republic Act 8435 or the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 provides for the modernization of the agricultural sectors by transforming these sectors from a resource-based to a technology-based industry. The government thru the Office of the President by way of a policy statement, dated 16 July 2001, recognized the potential of biotechnology as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security. Screenhouse, limited, and field trials of Corn Event MON 810 have been satisfactorily and successfully conducted and completed from 1998-2002 under close monitoring of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), the Bureau of Plant Industry’s Plant Quarantine Service, the Department of Agriculture, independent scientists, and other farming community stakeholders. After a stringent 5-year application process, final evaluation by 3 members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel composed of independent scientists, recommended the approval of the event as safe for food and feed use. The Bureau of Plant Industry approved the application for propagating Corn Event MON810 on 4 December 2002. Field trial results of Corn Event MON810 manifested an average yield increase of about 15-38%. With corn being the primary staple of livestock and the Philippines importing an average of 1 million metric tons to corn each year, this technology can be a potent tool to increasing farm yields and productivity. In addition, the PSIA believes that… Modern agricultural biotechnology offers developing countries like the Philippines a potent tool for addressing food security and environmental concerns in the face of declining farm productivity, decreasing agricultural area, deteriorating land quality, galloping population growth, and rising rural poverty; Agricultural biotechnology will set the stage for the acceleration of agricultural development and enhancing the production of agricultural crops that will dramatically assist in attaining food security and diversify agricultural production for export; Agricultural products derived from this technology will greatly assist in attaining the country’s food sufficiency program and increased agricultural productivity; The country has an appropriate regulatory setup to address the biosafety and health aspects of biotechnology products, including genetically modified organisms, by way of the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8 Series of 2002 (DA-AO #8) or the Rules and Regulations for the Importation and Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived From the Use of Modern Biotechnology; The Department of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Health and Environment and Natural Resources have successfully developed the policies and building capacities and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the tremendous benefits of modern biotechnology can be used safely and responsibly by our people; and, With an existing regulatory system in place, the Philippines is aligned with countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Argentina, among others, in promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology. The PSIA, therefore… Does not favor the hunger strike at the Department of Agriculture led by Philippine Greens and other non-government organizations for a moratorium on Bt corn; Fully supports the Department of Agriculture’s stand on the commercialization of Bt corn, with the product having gone through a very strict science-based risk assessment and evaluation by the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, and by other regulatory agencies as mandated in DA-AO #8; Appreciates the efforts of our government under the Macapagal-Arroyo Administration in pursuing the advancement of the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology for the upliftment of the Philippine Agricultural sector; and, Endorses the adoption of biotechnology as a national strategy for improving agricultural productivity and attaining global competitiveness. For and on behalf of the Association, DANTE M. BALBAS President   Back to PCFMI Proceed to IJST