Biotech corn trials show promising results

The planting of an environment-friendly biotechnology-processed corn variety by local corn farmers during the dry season could potentially increase average farm yield from 18 to 35 percent with significantly reduced or eliminated toxic chemical insecticide application.

This was disclosed by Noel Borlongan, government and public affairs director of leading international agriculture research firm Monsanto following the conclusion of dry season field trials based on comparative performance data by the biotech corn variety YieldGard and traditional hybrid corn lines.

Monsanto’s wet season trials showed YieldGard besting traditional variety yield by up to as much as 40 percent.

Borlongan said the dry season trials were administered from November last eyar to May this year in ten trial sites: Batac, Ilocos, Norte; Sta. Maria, Pangasinan; Tigaon,, Camarines Sur; Cauayan, Ilagan and Echague in Isabela; Koronadal and Tampakan in South Cotabato; and Kibawe and Dangkagan in Bukidnon.

Monsanto developed YieldGard using the biotechnology process, which enabled the variety to possess natural resistance to certain kinds of corn pests, specifically the dreaded Asiatic Corn Borer. Because of the natural resistance, the need to apply chemical insecticides has been reduced or eliminated.

Borlongan said that based on the average farm prices of corn at P6 per kilo, the average 18 to 35 percent advantage of YieldGard "could give our Filipino corn farmers potential additional income of P6 to 12,000 per hectare per harvest".

These figures do not yet include other potential income resulting from savings due to reduced or eliminated chemical use, Borlongan added.

Earlier, Arnold Estrada, Monsanto product development lead, also reported the obvious difference in the physical appearance of YieldGard corn and the traditional variety.

"YieldGard corn showed almost zero corn borer damage throughout the field trials," he said.

The harvested corn ears had better physical qualities, which is important to farmers, he pointed out. Corn borers destroy the stem, leaves and corn ears even before the crop is harvested. The resistance to the pest accounts for the better physical appearance of biotech variety.

Higher market value is not the only advantage offered by better corn ears. Estrada explained that healthy corn ears are also better protected from fungal infection.

"Fungus attacks insect-damaged corn ears which lead to a higher rate of rotting and mycotoxin contamination," he added.

The increased harvest and environmental protection advantages offered by the biotech corn variety come amid assurances that YieldGard pose no safety hazards both to livestock and humans.

"All commercially released biotech plants and plant products have undergone and passed rigid food and feed safety tests," Borlongan explained.

Biotech corn, cotton and soya crops are already widely used in the US, Canada, South Africa and Latin America. Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Indonesia and India are rapidly adopting the technology to agriculture.

Recently, Japan approved the importation of three varieties of biotechnology-processed corn and soybean, which brings to a total of 43 varieties of genetically modified plants Japan has approved for human consumption. The list includes corn, soybean, sugar beet, potato rapeseed and cotton.

The Philippine government, on the other hand, recently passed the Commercialization Guidelines on Biotechnology, which opened the door to the accelerated modernization of the local agricultural sector.

The signing came as the result of extensive consultations with all sectors, including government, NGOs, the church, food and feed industry, farmers groups and the scientific community. With a regulatory system in place, the Philippines is now in step with countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Argentina, India, China, among others, in promoting the advantages, and the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology.

Borlongan said Monsanto hopes the biotech corn variety "could be made commercially available soonest". In addition to bigger income for farmers, the variety could dramatically decrease the country’s dependence on imported corn. The Philippines imports an average of 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of corn from other countries annually.