Farmers support GMA on biotech

Influential members of the Philippine agricultural sector today issued a manifesto of support on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s approval to adopt modern biotechnology as an anchor of the government’s food security program.

In a biotech forum held today at the Department of Agriculture, the group also expressed support on Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Jr.’s call enjoining the local agricultural community "to participate in democratic discussion on GMOs, particularly, Bt corn".

Among those who signed the manifesto of support signaling the government’s stand on the commercialization of biotechnology-processed crops are Mr. Felix Cordero and Mr. Rod Bioco representing the Nursery Farmers Irrigators Association, Matatag Farmers Irrigators Association and San Isidro Integrated Agro-Industrial Multipurpose Cooperative (SINAG-MPC), and Philippine Maize Federation.

Earlier, two of the biggest agricultural groups in Mindanao, the Agricultural and Fisheries Council of General Santos City (AFC) and the Provincial Farmers Action Council in South Cotabato (PFAC), represented by Mr. Edwin Paraluman also expressed their support.

Bioco told the President that GMOs, particularly corn and soybean, have been declared safe by international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the European Commission, the Third World Academy of Sciences and the National Academies of Science of several countries.

He added that "all commercially released plants and plant products have undergone and passed rigid food and safety tests, and are as safe as any conventionally bred crop and pose no additional threat to humans and the environment".

Bioco also said ‘’the only way we can benefit from science is by welcoming with enlightened courage the opportunities that we find at every new frontier of knowledge".

"Agricultural biotechnology is one tool that holds great promise for alleviating hunger and poverty", he added.

Bioco also blasted an apparent well-funded campaign launched by foreign interest groups "to create a scare campaign against genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

He warned that this move is "meant to sow fear among the public".

The Department of Agriculture has earlier approved the commercial release for propagation of Bt corn-MON810 in December 2002.

These biotechnology-processed corn plants produce proteins that kill the Asiatic corn borer, a major insect pest of corn. These are planted in Ilocos, Pangasinan, Isabela and Camarines Sur.

Expected harvest date is April-May of this year.

Recent results show farmers who have planted the Bt corn have reported the effective response of the plants in controlling the corn borers.

Other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia have taken steps ahead of the Philippines in the application of biotechnology to their respective agricultural sectors.