Author : Daluddung, Joanne

Summary : Some reports in local media against transgenic crops are based on misinformation and pure emotions, and not on scientific facts. Dr. C. James reported that the high adoption rates for transgenic crops reflect the growing satisfaction with products that offer significant multiple benefits ranging from flexible crop management, higher productivity and a safer environment through the decreased use of conventional pesticides, which contribute to a more sustainable agriculture. As of 1998, there are now 36 transgenic crops which attained nonregulation status in the US. This means that field trials of certain crops with traits similar to crops previously approved for commercial release can now be conducted even without a permit by just informing the US Department of Agriculture that such crops are to be tested. These crops include potato, sugarbeet, tomato, cotton, soybean, rapeseed, squash, corn, papaya and radicchio with various traits.