RP to Boost Production of Agri-Products through Biotech

The Philippine Department of Agriculture, through its Biotechnology Program Office (BPO), said that the government is reviving up research and development on several commodities while boosting production of non-traditional agricultural products through biotechnology. Research and development programs, which include the propagation of superior rice varieties, genetically improved papaya, abaca and even yeast mixes that will improve the production and recovery of ethanol from sugarcane, sweet sorghum and sweet potato for biofuels, are currently being pursued by the department. The Agriculture Department is also set to work on high yielding and disease-resistant seaweed strains and coconut resistant to the leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima.  

Several biotech products are currently in the pipeline. The bacterial blight-resistant hybrid rice is expected to be released next year, and will be followed by the papaya ringspot virus-resistant papaya and the golden rice by 2010.  

Scientists are also conducting research to boost biotech applications in the integrated processing of coconut for plant growth hormones, functional drinks, virgin coconut oil (VCO) for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, biodiesel and recovery of ethanol from glycerin.

Read more at http://www.da.gov.ph/news_archive/2007/sep.html.