Biotech crop production now a thriving industry

MANILA, Philippines - In 2011, the global market value of genetically modified (GM) or biotechnology crops hit the $13-billion mark.

Production of GM or Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn in the Philippines has also developed into a multibillion peso venture.

Since the first farm-level cultivation of GM crops in the United States in 1996, the global area planted to biotechnology crops has reached 160 million hectares (ha) in 29 countries, with the Philippines now devoting 545,000 hectares to Bt corn, much more than the few thousands of hectares when the crop was first grown here in 2003.

In other countries, the technology has emerged as “a powerful means of improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability of farm production systems, including those of small farm holdings,” pointed out the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) and Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).

In a joint report, APAARI and PCAARRD noted that in China, the world’s most populous country, GM cotton, papaya, tomato, sweet pepper, and poplar are being grown in more than 3.5 million hectares, while approval was granted in 2009 to GM rice and maize.

In India, the second most populated country, the area planted to Bt cotton since it was released eight years ago has reached 9.4 million hectares, or 85 percent of that country’s total 11 million hectares cotton area.

“Several studies made on the performance and impact of GM crops have shown that farmers have benefited through increased yield and reduced pesticide use resulting in higher profits and household incomes as well as increased aggregate employment, APAARI and PCAARRD stressed.

The latest developments chalked up in this fast-evolving genetic modification or genetic engineering technology will further be reported at an international forum billed “Stakeholders’ Interface on GM Crops” to be held at the Traders Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Sept. 27.

ISAAA had earlier reported that as of 2011, the annual global market value of biotech crops had reached $13.3 billion, up from $11.78 billion in 2010.

“The Philippines has already gained $108 million (about P4.5 billion) from biotech maize in a short span of seven years, 2003 to 2010, it also noted.

ISAAA founding director and current chairman Dr. Clive James presented his report titled “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011” at the 2012 edition of the global yearly seminar on biotechnology held in Manila jointly sponsored by ISAAA, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and Biotechnology Media Advisory Resource Center (BMARC).

Dr. James reported that the $13.3 billion biotech crop market in 2011 comprised $6.5 billion for maize, $4.4 billion for soybean, $1.8 billion for cotton, and $0.3 billion for canola. The accumulated global value for the 16-year period since biotech crops were first commercialized in 1996 is about $87.4 billion.

As of 2011, he further noted, about 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries planted biotech crops in 160 million hectares. Of the 20 countries, 17 devoted more than 50,000 hectares each to GM crops, making them “biotech maga-countries”.

The Philippines ranked 13th, devoting 545,000 hectares to Bt corn in 2011.

The US has remained the top biotech crop producer, planting 66.8 million hectares to eight crops dominated by maize and soybean.