BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Philippine Ag-Biotech: how far have we come
by Rita T. dela Cruz

October-December 2000
Volume 2 No. 4

The Philippines started its biotechnology program 20 years ago. The agricultural biotechnology researchers concentrated mainly on the production of biocontrol agents, soil amendments, food and beverages, and development of tissue culture methods. During this time, biotechnology was able to produce ag-biotech products that could replace environmentally-hazardous agrochemicals such as biofertilizers, biopesticides and biocontrol agents. Moreover, plant and animal diseases can be detected earlier and more accurately with biotech-derived diagnostic kits. Animal diseases are being prevented using biotech-derived vaccines and antibiotics. Plants such as orchids, banana, makapuno, and potato can now be readily and widely propagated using tissue culture techniques. Through embryo transfer and estrus synchronization, technology improvement of stocks of cows and carabaos are now possible. The type of research undertaken was mostly conventional biotechnology, which does not include molecular biology approaches.

It was only in 1998 that high-level biotechnology researches were pursued through increased support from the government. Five cloning and genetic engineering projects were conducted, among which were the transgenic banana and papaya resistant to banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) and papaya ringspot virus (PRSV); delayed ripening of papaya and mango; development of Asiatic corn borer-resistant corn (Bt Corn); development of a marker-assisted breeding in coconut; and modification of fatty acid composition of coconut oil using molecular techniques.

The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) in UP Los Baños continued to provide leadership in agricultural, forestry, industrial, and environmental technology as well as other research institutes such as the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS), Institute of Animal Science (IAS), Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), and the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR). On the other hand, three other biotechnology institutes, established by the UP System were created to focus on industrial biotechnology: BIOTECH in UP Diliman, human health biotechnology for UP Manila and marine biotechnology for UP Visayas.

Outside the UP system were research institutes and centers such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Coconut Authority, Cotton Development Authority, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, and the Industrial Technology and Development Institute which were also involved in biotechnology R&D.

PhilRice is currently developing rice varieties through genetic engineering, which are resistant to important diseases such as sheath blight and tungro. BIOTECH, in collaboration with PhilRice, is engineering stem borer, brown planthopper, and green leafhopper resistance in rice. On the other hand, IPB is engaged in developing papaya varieties through genetic engineering with delayed ripening trait and resistance against the papaya ringspot virus.

New agri-biotech products are being developed for those crops that would continue to flourish in saline soils, could survive with less water and nutrients, could extract pollutants, and produce industrial polymers. Also, there are new grains that could reduce the incidence of harmful E. coli in beef cattle and the incidence of Salmonella toxins in poultry to produce healthier animals.

(For more information, please contact BIOTECH at UPLB, College Laguna, telephone nos. (049) 536-1620 or 536-2721 or 2725)