Savant says agricultural biotechnology
crucial to solving food, energy problems

LEADING biotechnologist Dr. Benigno Peczon says the massive cultivation of biotech crops would assure the Philippines that there will be enough food for the entire population even in the next one million years.

Peczon also stressed in his address at a scientific meeting at the University of the Philippines in Diliman (UP Diliman) last Wednesday, November 26, that biotech crops would guarantee that the country shall have enough energy while oil wells in the Middle East dry up.

The scientist stressed during the celebration of the 4^th National Biotechnology Week at the Institute of Small-Scale Industries (ISSI) in UP Diliman: “In the next few years, Middle East will run out of oil. But in the next million years, we will not run out of sunshine.”

Peczon, an official of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), was a key speaker on the forum food security and agricultural development.

He presented the initiatives of biotechnology in Asia, stressing that biotechnology can create solutions in our quest for sustainable renewable energy.

Peczon batted for stronger collaboration among scientists and stressed that a united scientific community committed to solving the woes of the agricultural production system is required for the country to advance economically.

He argued that a community of scientists and researchers speaking as one could be ““formidable” as a partner for providing the answers to such serious issues as poverty and hunger.

Dr. Evelyn Mae Mendoza, a professor from UP Los Banos-Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), also presented advances in crop biotechnology.

She was part of the team that developed the world’s first papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) resistant papaya with delayed ripening trait.

Papaya is considered as the world’s most nutritious fruit and Mendoza’s work could lead to intensified papaya production to answer the expected high local demand.

Dr. Francisco Elegado of UPLB-National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Biotech) also delivered updates on food biotechnology while Dr. Gabriel O. Romero of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) delivered a review of the work of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Crop Biotechnology Center..

Dr. Libertado Cruz of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) reported on developments in the country’s program to breed carabaos that produce more milk and meat, stressing the immense possibilities of using biotechnological processes to increase milk production and reduce the country dependence on milk imports.

Dr. Gisela Concepcion of the UP-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) gave a talk on fisheries and marine biotechnology, noting the many opportunities presented by marine resources for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Dr. Evelyn Grace de Jesus-Ayson briefed the forum participants on the global status and prospects on fisheries and aquatic biotechnology.

            While presenting the opportunities of agricultural biotechnology products, the scientists explained that farmers must be informed about these advances in the laboratory and in field before they can be encouraged to shift to biotech crops.

Farmers attending the celebration said: “For us, we will grab on anything that gives us solutions to our problems.”

The scientists called for strengthening public and private partnerships and added that a united front is required to craft solutions to agricultural and food security problems.

Meanwhile, a parallel event sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) was held at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) on the challenges and opportunities in biotechnology for high school students.

One of the participants, Lance Co Ting Keh from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), was positive about the youth’s role in biotechnology development.

Keh is the founding secretary-general of the ASEAN Youth Science Summit.

“I think that it’s very good that the Philippine government is undertaking the initiative to inform the students since it is we, as leaders of future generations, who will hold and guide the use of biotechnology in the future,” he stressed.