Biotech Updates

Challenges to Sustain Benefits of Biotech Corn in the Philippines

May 13, 2011

Stronger public-private partnership, development and implementation of resistance management strategy, and continuing public education on crop biotech - these are the challenges that have to be addressed to sustain the benefits of biotech corn in the Philippines. This was forwarded by Dr. Samuel Dalmacio, consultant of Pioneer Hi-Bred, Inc., in his talk on Harnessing the benefits of crop biotechnology thru public-private partnership: The case of biotech corn in the Philippines during the 21st scientific conference of the Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines in Legazpi City, Philippines from May 9-14, 2011.

Dr. Dalmacio also enumerated the key factors that led to the early adoption of the technology in the country. These were the following:

  • timely development and implementation of science-based and transparent regulatory system for research and development in biotech;
  • good research collaboration between technology developers and public sector scientists;
  • local government unit support; and
  • strong advocacy on biotech by partners.

For additional information about the conference, email knowledge.center@isaaa.org.