Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Scientist Receives Award from National Science Body

The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the Philippine governments highest advisory body on science and technology, recently awarded Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Research Manager Dr. Samuel Dalmacio, among other scientists, during the annual NAST Awards held in Manila Hotel.

The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the Philippine governments highest advisory body on science and technology, recently awarded Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Research Manager Dr. Samuel Dalmacio, among other scientists, during the annual NAST Awards held in Manila Hotel.

The NAST has given recognition to outstanding scientists and researchers for individual or group works that has contributed to the advancement of science and technology in the Philippines.

This year, Dr. Dalmacio together with Dr. Eduardo Fernandez, University Researcher IV of the Institute of Plant Breeding at UP Los Baños, and Dr. Randy Hautea, Global Coordinator of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and Director for the institutes Asian center won this years prestigious Outstanding Scientific Paper Award with their paper entitled, Efficacy of Transgenic Corn Expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis cry1A(b) Gene Against Asiatic Corn Borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee)", which was published in The Philippine Entomologist, a journal of the Philippine Association of Entomologists.

The paper was awarded for its outstanding contribution to agricultural science as the work marked the first insect-resistant evaluation of a genetically engineered crop, other than rice, in the Philippines. The paper was also recognized for increasing awareness for biotechnology, particularly positioning plant genetic engineering as a new tool in crop improvement in the country.

We at Pioneer Hi-Bred are very pleased that one of our scientists has been recognized," said Jet Marcial Parma, Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Business Manager. This award reinforces DuPonts commitment to scientific achievement and innovation that make a difference in peoples lives, and in this case, for our farmers who rely so much in pesticides for their crops-with some considering it as their means to protect their only source of income."

Dr. Dalmacio, a well-known plant pathologist, has been supporting corn research and operations in Asia and the Middle East for more than 15 years. He is a member of several professional, honorary and scientific organizations. Aside from contributing to this years winning paper, he has authored 14 and co-authored 29 scientific publications, mostly related to corn and sorghum pathology and breeding.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the worlds leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.