Author : Halos, Saturnina C.

Summary : Agricultural biotechnology is officially recognized by the Philippine government as a tool to attain food security and sustainable agriculture, promote health and food safety and provide people empowerment. This paper traces the development of agricultural biotechnology in the country starting with plant tissue culture activities in the 1960s. Among those utilized at commercial scale are micropropagation of banana and orchids, micropropagation of disease-free sugarcane seed buds for distribution to growers, and to a limited extent, embryo culture of the mutant coconut makapuno. Fermentation-based technologies for agricultural application include soil inoculants, biocontrol agents, enzymes and diagnostics for food and animal diseases. Development of transgenic crops such as papaya with delayed ripening trait and virus resistance and rice with insect and pathogen resistance is ongoing at several institutions. Regulation of R&D of modern biotechnology projects is in place while the regulatory framework for commercialization is being worked out. Only one field trial of Bt corn has been carried out; preparations for other limited field trials of Bt corn and transgenic rice are underway.