Bayer Philippines Inc. (Bayer) hopes that the national government’s regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will remain “progressive” to ensure the timely release of new seed technologies that could bolster the country’s food security.
Bayer Managing Director Angel Michael Evangelista said the country’s regulatory procedures on biotechnology are “progressive” compared to those of its Asean peers, providing technology developers with an efficient research and development climate.
“It is progressive compared to Asean and it is good that it is like that so we can introduce our biotechnology technologies, such as our seeds. It is very good actually,” Evangelista told the BusinessMirror on the sidelines of the opening of the multinational’s P750-million office in Taguig City.
At present, Bayer has two biotechnology seed products in the market—DEKALB, a hybrid corn variety and Arize, a hybrid rice variety.
“There will be new products in the pipeline for both crops, which will have new traits. [We will also have] more progressive crop protection products,” Evangelista said.
Evangelista noted that the company’s new office would contribute to the development of its agriculture-focused products as it allows them to conduct more efficient online collaboration with farmers and technology developers.
The Philippines earlier this year revised its biotechnology regulatory procedures after years of complaints and concerns from industry stakeholders regarding the delayed approvals of new technologies. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/01/03/phl-to-roll-out-in-2022-revised-biotech-setup-to-fast-track-approvals/)
The national government last month approved the commercial propagation of Bt eggplant, making it the third genetically engineered crop in the domestic commercial market following Bt corn and Golden Rice.
A Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report earlier lauded the approval of Bt eggplant, which was more than a decade in the making, noting that it signals the Philippines’s commitment to end hunger and achieve food security through biotechnology.
Bt eggplant was the first genetically engineered crop to be approved for commercial propagation under the revised biotechnology rules of the Philippines as stipulated in Joint Department Circular 1 Series of 2021.
The Gain report, prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila, pointed out that the approval of Bt eggplant, which is resistant to fruit and shoot borer, shows the Philippines’s commitment to end hunger and achieve food security.
“With the approval for commercial cultivation, the Philippines will be better positioned to meet Sustainable Development Goal [SDG] 2: end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. Specifically, Bt eggplant will contribute to the Philippines meeting Targets 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4,” the report read.
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