ISAAA and DA’s Know the Science Project Pursues Policy Advocacy with Biotech Caravan

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Inc. (ISAAA, Inc.) organized the first-ever Agri-Biotech in Action: A Biotech Caravan Experience on May 7-8, 2026, in Los Banos, Laguna, and Tarlac City, targeting frontliners in policymaking. The caravan is co-organized with the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA Biotech Program), and the Philippine House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Food Security, chaired by Hon. Raymond Adrian E. Salceda (3rd District of Albay).

The conduct of the Biotech Caravan with key stakeholders in the Philippines is one of the key deliverables of ISAAA and DA Biotech’s Know the Science project, as a response to biotech knowledge gaps in policymaking and implementation. Following up on the initial engagement with the HRep officials during the Kapihan Session held in February 2026, the caravan is designed to deepen engagement among key stakeholders, particularly policymakers and biotech crop developers from both the public and private sectors. The participants comprised Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, secretariats from various House Committees, and congressional staff from the office of Rep. Salceda, Rep. Cojuangco, and Rep. Nicanor Briones. 

The first stop of the caravan was the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Mr. Panfilo de Guzman, Senior Associate Scientist at ISAAA Inc., welcomed the participants and encouraged them to make the most of the experience by actively engaging with the resource speakers. IPB officials presented the biotech initiatives of the institute, particularly the research and development of insect-resistant Bt eggplant. According to Dr. Lourdes Taylo, Project Leader of the Bt Eggplant Project, Bt eggplant addresses farmers' pest problems, thereby reducing the urge to overuse insecticides. The safety tests for Bt eggplant also assessed impacts on the soil ecosystem, and the findings showed no negative impacts. Rep. Cojuangco commented that, since Bt eggplant and Bt corn use the same technique to address pest attacks, there should be no hesitation in adopting Bt eggplant from the adopters' perspective. 

The next stop of the caravan was at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where the researchers provided the participants with a discussion of biosafety protocols and some research conducted in the Genetic Transformation Laboratory and Transgenic Greenhouses. They also toured the International Rice Genebank, where they saw the storage facilities for rice seed deposits from around the world.

The second day of the caravan was dedicated to a visit to the Corteva Seed Processing Plant in Tarlac City. The seed operations staff showed the participants the various process sections of the plant, from the delivery area to storage. Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, Corteva’s Asia Pacific Regional Regulatory Manager, also provided a thorough discussion of the high-quality seed production processes they implement and the impact of biotech corn commercialization on the Philippine market. He stressed that 50-60% of the feeds being produced in the country are yellow corn, and 75% of the yellow corn is genetically modified. Thus, without biotechnology, the poultry and livestock industry would suffer.

The participants provided feedback after the activities and attested that they had the opportunity to see firsthand the narratives surrounding biotechnology. ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Biotechnology Manager, Ms. Kristine Grace Tome, closed the event with a message. “Witnessing your enthusiasm fills us with joy and deeper commitment to continue our knowledge sharing and policy advocacy initiatives…Let’s continue working together.”

For more details about this activity, send an email to knowledgecenter@isaaa.org

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