Biotech Experts Push Forward Bill on Modern Biotech in PH
May 9, 2018| |
Biotech experts in the Philippines aim to advance modern biotechnology in the country to help reduce hunger and poverty, mitigate the effects of climate change, among other benefits. With this objective, a draft bill titled "An Act to Support Modern Biotechnology for Sustainable Rural Development in the Republic of the Philippines and Appropriating Funds Thereof" is being developed by the Coalition of Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP), together with other like-minded organizations.
On April 25, 2018, the draft bill was discussed in a seminar on plant breeding innovations organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Manila.
CAMP president, Dr. Benigno Peczon, said that the contents of the proposed draft bill include the establishment of a body called Biotechnology Authority of the Philippines, which will lead the modern biotechnology initiatives in the country. The draft bill is scheduled to be transmitted to the House of Representatives in May 2018.
"We have to pass this soon because the poverty in this country is a big problem, and we are falling behind our neighboring countries. This is such a useful technology, but we are tying up ourselves because of that Supreme Court ruling. Our regulatory process is way too slow," stressed Dr. Peczon.
Officials of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications expressed their support for the draft bill. "So, it is one package that provides development boost and, at the same time, carries the cautionary requirement that it supports a safe and responsible use of technology," said Dr. Randy Hautea, Global Coordinator of ISAAA. Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, Director of ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology said that the draft bill would promote research and development (R&D) on biotechnology, give incentives to scientists and educate scientists, especially on agri-biotechnology.
For more information, read the original article from Business Mirror.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Advances in Crop Science Critical in Combating Effects of Climate Change
- New Sunflower Seeds Improve Yields in Tanzania
- Scientists Publish New Model for Communication in Plant Cells
- USDA Proposes New National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard
- Rice with Triple-stack Traits Shows Better Yields Amidst Abiotic Stresses
- Radiocarbon-based Study Suggests Wheat Introduced to China in 2600 BCE
- Australian OGTR Invites Comments on GM Wheat Field Trial
- Biotech Experts Push Forward Bill on Modern Biotech in PH
- New Analysis Reveals Organic Agriculture Less Productive than Conventional Agriculture
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Reveal that a MAPK Signaling Pathway Controls Grain Size
- SlbZIP1 Regulates Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Tomato
- Overexpression of Arabidopsis Gene Enhances Vitamin B6 Content in Potato
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Rose Genome Provides New Insights into the Domestication of Modern Roses
-
Announcements
- Asian Short Course on Agri-biotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication
-
Plant
- CRISPR- Mediated Mutagenesis on Duplicated Loci in Soybean
- CRISPR-Cas9 System Used to Develop Pink Tomatoes
- Rapeseed with Increased Oleic Acid Generated through CRISPR
- Research Team Combines Microspore Technology with CRISPR-Cas9
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet