Biotech Updates

Biotech Corn Production Sets Phil for Corn Export

October 9, 2013

Biotech corn has increased Philippine corn production leading to a possible export of 50,000 to 100,000 metric tons (MT) of grains to other countries such as South Korea and Malaysia. This year, Ploughshares Inc. exported a total of 467 MT of corn silage to South Korea. According to Salvador Umengan, Ploughshares Inc. President, there is a corn export opportunity growing especially if Ploughshares would be able to develop bulk handling of silage. Corn grains may also be exported from the Philippines in the future because of their good quality.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also reported that the Philippines is all set to export corn grains, which is part of the government's program. "There is a recommendation with the NFA (National Food Authority) Council for DA to export 50,000 to 100,000 tons of corn," according to DA. "Exporting corn is really our strategy because if we have a surplus, prices may go down, and it will be our farmers that will suffer if prices will drop."

The Philippines used to import one million metric tons (MT) of corn. Since Bt corn was released in 2002, the country sustained its production growth. In 2012, 750,000 hectares of land were planted with biotech corn. This is 58 percent of the total land area planted to yellow corn. By the end of the year, production is targeted to reach to 8.1 million to as much as 8.4 million MT.

"The GM technology is not only benefiting consumers and farmers. It's benefiting the whole country towards agricultural modernization and competitiveness," said Umengan. "We now have very little or zero importation because of increased competitiveness. A lot is due to biotechnology seeds that pulled up our production."

Read more at http://businessdiary.com.ph/6088/successful-distribution-of-bt-corn-leads-philippines-to-corn-export-of-potentially-50000-100000-mt-to-south-korea-malaysia/ and http://www.theboholstandard.com/topstory.php?issue=317&s1=5355&s2=5360&s3=5362&s4=&s5=&s6=&s7=&s8=&s9=&s10=&s11=&s12=1537&s13=&s14=&s15=