Davao Media Gets Enlightened on Biotechnology

Twenty-five (25) members of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 11 Press Corps visited biotech research institutions and organizations in Los Baños, Laguna on July 27-29, 2016 to learn about the basic science, applications, and potential benefits of biotechnology, with focus on the country's R&D status of products in the pipeline.

The Training-Writeshop on Engaging Regional Media for Science-Based Reporting on Modern Agricultural Technologies, organized by DA Region 11 and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC), shared insights to enable the media to write/produce compelling stories in modern agricultural technologies, particularly biotech.

The media practitioners also visited UPLB's Institute of Plant Breeding where they learned about the Bt eggplant project and the Philippine Genome Center, and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology where they learned about its programs and activities for biotech research not involving GMOs. They also visited the International Rice Research Institute headquarters and learned about the Golden Rice project.

The media participants were briefed about the global status of biotech crops in 20 years, as well as the highlights for 2015 by ISAAA Global Coordinator Dr. Randy Hautea, and the activities of ISAAA's Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology by Dr. Rhodora Aldemita. They also learned about principles of effective science communication in the context of biotech from UPLB College of Development Communication Professor Dr. Cleofe Torres.

For more news and updates about biotech developments in the Philippines, visit SEARCA BIC's website.