Biotech Updates

RP Biotech Projects Receive Go-Signal

January 19, 2007

The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved P45 million-worth of applied biotechnology research projects this year for the improvement of rice, coconut, papaya, and abaca. The DA-approved biotechnology projects for 2007 include the development of papaya hybrid varieties with delayed ripening traits, which will be implemented by the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB) Foundation, and the UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding; improvement of rice hybrid lines to be carried out by the Philippine Rice Research Institute to increase rice production; control and management of the brontispa disease in coconut initiated by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); cloning and mass propagation of high-yield coconuts by the PCA-Albay Research Center; and the development of genetically modified varieties of abaca (Manila hemp) by the Fiber Development Authority (FIDA).

To read more, visit http://www.da.gov.ph/.