Government mulls credit for biotech corn

With Philippines as the first country in Southeast Asia to allow commercial propagation of Bt corn, Million Jobs Program Undersecretary Tetchi Capellan encouraged Thai farmers to study the Philippine experience so that they can meaningfully participate in agriculture policies regarding GMOs.

Makati City-Million Jobs Program Undersecretary Tetchi Capellan said the government is considering plans to provide credit assistance to farmers who will plant Bt corn in order to accelerate farm productivity in corn growing areas. "The need to secure food supply is imperative as the country and the Asian region in general is threatened by the crisis in the Middle East," she says during a recent meeting with Filipino and Thai farmers at the Asian Institute of Management. In 2001, the Philippines imported 171,770 metric tons of corn valued at US$25.6M, an improvement when compared to year 2000 when the Philippines imported 446,430 metric tons. These are mostly used by feedmilling sector which links the feedcrop and the livestock industry.
   
Agricultural farm technologies that can help improve production and increase efficiency must be used in a sustainable manner. "Safe and responsible use of biotechnology is an option that the government supports towards our goal in agricultural modernization," Capellan stressed. Strict and fair regulation is important for credibility and trust among stakeholders. In the Philippines, stringent biosafety regulations are in place from research to propagation phase. The Department of Agriculture and the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines are premier agencies tasked to evaluate applications, as well as assess and monitor undertakings related to biotechnology products prior to granting of permits. For example, Monsanto's Yieldgard 818 underwent a series of evaluation starting in 1996 from the greenhouse to field trials in different corn growing areas before it was finally granted permit for propagation in December 2002. Still, the areas being planted with Bt corn are subject to monitoring by the Department.

The Asiatic corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis G. is one of the most damaging corn pests that can cause as much as 80% yield loss. The borer feeds on the corn plants creating holes and tunnels that ultimately damage the leaves, stalks, tassels, leaf axils, ears, and cobs of the corn plant. A female borer can lay 500-1500 eggs. The first generation of borers occurs during late vegetative and whorl stage of the corn plant before the tassels are formed. The second generation strikes during pollen shedding and ear formation. Farmers control the pest in many different ways such as seasonal timing of planting, removal of tassels, deployment of Trichogramma, and application of insecticides. With the advances of genetic engineering, a Bt corn is developed that makes the menu of choices for farmers expand in dealing against corn borers. This is done by inserting a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium, that produces a specific insecticidal crystal protein into the corn plant or a cry gene. The cry protein is specific only for corn borers.

With Philippines as the first country in Southeast Asia to allow commercial propagation of Bt corn, Capellan encouraged Thai farmers to study the Philippine experience so that they can meaningfully participate in agriculture policies regarding GMOs. Noting that though Thai farmers have higher corn yields per hectare than Filipino counterparts, Thailand still imports corn for its fast growing livestock and poultry sectors. Food security in the region is an important concern in ASEAN, thus, new technologies should be harnessed including biotechnology. Should Thais plant Bt corn, an opportunity for a common experience and cooperation exist for the region.

The Los Banos-based SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center facilitated the visit of Thai farmers in order to observe first hand the first SEA experience on commercial propagation of BT corn.

Reference:    
Ms. Sonny P. Tababa
Network Administrator
Biotechnology Information Center      
spt@agri.searca.org, stababa@yahoo.com

or

Rachel P. Lomibao
Biotechnology Information Center
rpl@agri.searca.org, rpl_03@yahoo.com
or visit:http://www.searca.org/~bic/media/index.htm