Monsanto set to start commercial production of new Bt corn

Multinational seed producer Monsanto Philippines will shortly begin the commercial production of a new genetically modified corn (GM) variety, the stack-trait corn, a combination of two earlier approved GM corn varieties, the borer-resistant or rootworm tolerant corn, and the herbicide-resistant corn.

Alicia Ilaga, director of the Department of Agriculture’s biotech program said the Bureau of Plant Industry already approved for commercial production the new GM corn variety developed by Monsanto.

Ilaga said the new GM corn variety is a superior variety because it combines the best traits of two earlier approved biotech corn varieties developed by Monsanto – the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn or Mon 810 and Roundup Ready corn.

Through genetic engineering, the company introduced a Bt gene in 2002 that enables the corn plant to resist the attacks of Asiatic corn borer, a dreaded insect pest that can cause as much as 80-percent yield reduction.

On the other hand, Monsanto’s NK603 Roundup Ready corn was introduced in the local market earlier this year. Monsanto claimed the Roundup Ready corn with its herbicide-tolerant technology encourages the adoption of conservation tillage practices, which reduces soil erosion, improves water quality and wildlife habitat, while optimizing yields.

Stack-trait corn also incorporated the EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene, a naturally-occurring bacteria in the soils which allows the corn plant to continuously produce essential aromatic amino acids even with the presence of glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide.

Glyphosate kills the weeds without harming the corn plant, unlike conventional corn plants when sprayed with glyphosate, stop producing the aromatic amino acids that are essential to their survival.

The EPSPS enzyme can be found in all plants, bacteria and fungi. Animals do not produce its own aromatic amino acids; thus, they need to obtain it from plants for survival.

Ilaga said local corn farmers‚ access to stack-trait corn is critical in controlling the infestation of corn borers and weeds that could potentially destroy as much as 80 percent of a regular crop.

Stack-trait corn promises farmers significant reduction in production costs, especially in terms of spraying pesticides and herbicides and the payment for the laborious manual weeding.

The DA is endorsing the use of biotech corn in its bid to be self-sufficient in the corn, the second major staple of the Philippines next to rice.

Since commercial planting of Bt corn in 2003, there are now an estimated aggregate area of 70,000 hectares planted to insect-protected corn. The introduction of new high-yielding biotech corn varieties is expected to encourage more farmers to shift to Bt corn and other improved GM corn varieties.

Corn areas in the country planted to Bt corn variety is projected to double to 100,000 hectares this year from 54,668 hectares in 2004.

Randy Hautea, global coordinator of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications said there is no reversing the trend as more corn farmers realize the benefits of shifting to planting Bt corn.

"The initial apprehensions of planting Bt corn is being gradually replaced by more corn farmers wanting to also experience the gains made by the first planters when they shifted to planting this pest resistant corn variety," said Hautea.

In 2004, the area planted to planting Bt corn surged to 54,668 hectares from only 24,000 hectares in the previous year. In 2005, more corn farmers are seen to start planting Bt corn along with the expansion of hectarage devoted to this corn variety.