Genetically modified cotton seen reviving local industry

MANILA, Philippines — The adoption of genetically modified cotton could help weave a new future for the country’s cotton industry.

Abraham Manalo, executive secretary of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, said Bt cotton has the potential to revive the country’s cotton industry.

“Our cotton industry in the Philippines fell because of pests,” he said.

The cotton bollworm was one of the most devastating pests for cotton in the country, causing a substantial 65 percent loss in yields and effectively decimating the Philippines’ cotton industry.

Manalo said current efforts to adopt Bt cotton is being conducted by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) through backcrossing, a planting method where hybrid offspring are bred with one of its donor parents to keep desirable traits.

“It is planted several times so that its insecticidal trait remains in our own hybrids,” he added.

He said the breeding process could take two to three years to complete, with full rollout expected by 2027.

Manalo said Central Mindanao, the Visayas and Northern and Central Luzon are suitable areas for cotton growing.

Aside from improving cotton plants, Manalo said that the government should support the cotton and textile industries through better subsidies.

He added that the government must also regulate the influx of imported secondary garments, which is affecting the competitiveness of the local textile sector.

Bt cotton, developed by PhilFIDA, is an insect-resistant transgenic crop designed to combat cotton bollworm. The Bureau of Plant Industry approved the biosafety permit for the commercial propagation of the genetically modified cotton in August 2023.

The significant loss in cotton production, coupled with the loss in planting area, resulted in the county’s textile industry to heavily rely on imports.