Experts Discuss Barriers to Bt Cotton Adoption in the Philippines

The approval for the commercial propagation of Bt cotton marks a breakthrough in revitalizing the cotton industry in the Philippines. To understand potential impact and challenges, a commentary written by Rosalyn Angeles-Shim from Texas Tech University, USA and Georgina Vergara from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) provided a comprehensive background and discussion on Bt cotton and its adoption.

Bt cotton varieties demonstrated advantages in trials conducted across multiple provinces in the Philippines. Bt cotton provides hope for increased profitability and sustainability in cotton farming, with pilot farms in Ilocos Norte showing significantly higher incomes. However, the authors cited several challenges that could threaten the successful adoption of Bt cotton in the country. Among the challenges discussed are the following:

• Technological framework and infrastructure - existing infrastructure and tools must be upgraded to handle the shorter fiber of Bt G. hirsutum.
• Technology transfer - integrating Bt technology into local cotton varieties is technically challenging and requires technical expertise and capacity to avoid compromising fiber quality.
• Social acceptance - the distrust among farmers and weavers highlights the need for education on the safety and economic benefits of Bt cotton.

While Bt cotton presents an opportunity to boost the cotton industry, several systemic and cultural challenges must be addressed to ensure the adoption and acceptance of Bt cotton in the Philippines. The authors concluded that training and financial support to farmers and weavers and educational campaigns are essential to build trust in the technology.

For more information, read the Commentary on GM Crops & Food.