Anti-GMO groups oppose field testing of 'Bt Talong'

MANILA, Philippines - A coalition of groups opposed to genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) want the government to stop the field testing of “Bt Talong,” which they said is being done without any assessment on the possible health and environmental risks of the crop.

The Network Opposed to Genetically Modified Organisms (No2GMOs) is poised to invoke the recently promulgated “Writ of Kalikasan” as a legal move to stop the testing, said Rene Pineda, vice president of Consumer Rights for Safe Food.

At present, the testing is being done in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan; Bay, Laguna; Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Baybay, Leyte; Davao City and Kabacan, North Cotabato and being undertaken by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños with funding from the US Agency for International Development.

The coalition said the Department of Agriculture has no choice but to stop the testing of Bt eggplant until the government is able to determine its safety for human and animal consumption.

Lawyer Lee Aruelo, associate of the Third World Network, said they are hoping that Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala, who until his recent appointment was an organic farmer himself, would side with them.

The coalition claimed that there should be a credible risk assessment that is suited for the conditions of the local environment in the Philippines.

Aruelo claimed that as basis for the field trial, the scientific dossier being used by the crop’s proponent is the one developed in India, where apart from the Philippines and Bangladesh, the crop was also tested.

She said this variety of genetically-modified crop produces a form of antibiotic and continuous consumption of the crop over time might lead to resistance to antibiotics.

Aruelo added that the use of Bt to develop the new variety of eggplant might lead to the emergence of new pests.

Jean Yasol-Lugasip, policy officer of SEARICE, said the risks that the new crop might pose to the environment and public health are not worth the supposed benefits of the GMO product.

Lugasip claimed that the strain only addresses the problem of boarers and not other pests.

According to the coalition, Alcala must require the proponents of Bt eggplant to come up with their own technical dossier based on Philippine conditions before the testing continues.

“They (proponents) should be able to address the critique posed by the scientific community on Bt eggplant that led to its demise in India, its own point of origin,” the coalition said in a statement.

Aruelo claimed that in the case of India, the testing of Bt eggplant on animals resulted in problems in blood, liver and stomach lining.

“If our government will continue to let the proponents of Bt eggplant undermine our public health interests, the Philippines will be the first to allow its commercialization, after it was rejected in India,” the coalition said.