Author : Paredes, Joel C.

Summary : The year 2002 was actually the time when the corn MON810, or popularly known as Bt corn, was finally approved by government for propagation as well as direct use for food or feed and processing. it was widely acknowledged as a major breakthrough in the agriculture and science communities. It opened the country to the propagation of modern biotechnology. It also took the challenge needed to help ensure the success of government's food security agenda. The Bacillus thurigiensis or Bt corn is produced by transferring bacterial genes tot he corn to make it resistant to corn borer. The product was already commercially available in the United States, Canada, Japan, European Union, South Africa and Argentina but the Bt corn still had to pass through the Department of Agriculture's stringent - and rigid - evaluation process. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) tapped 16 personnel for feed safety, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisherreis Product Standards (BAFRS) and two technical experts from the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) the safety in handling of Bt corn in food and feed. Finally, experts concluded that Bt corn was safe to humans, animals, non-target organisms. It was also as nutritious as any ordinary corn, safer than chemical insecticides and very effective in controlling Asiatic corn borer.