Pinoy scientists push anew for Bt eggplant commercialization

Filipino scientists have reiterated their call to lift government restrictions on the planting and sale of genetically-modified Bt eggplants, citing a clean history of safety and projected economic benefits.

 

The Court of Appeals issued a Writ of Kalikasan last year, ordering the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned government agencies to stop field trials of genetically-modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant.

The court said that this was a “precautionary” measure, adding that, “It is clear that there is no full scientific certainty yet as to the effects of the Bt talong field trials to the environment and the health of the people.”

 

However, in a move to counter supposed misinformation over the safety of Bt crops, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) held a two-day public dialogue at UPLB from October 21 to 22.

 

Farmers from different provinces across the country were invited to listen to experts discuss the science behind the development of the eggplant and the potential economic impact of introducing it to the local market. At the end of the program, the farmers signed a declaration of support for the commercial planting of Bt eggplants.

 

Scientist to critics: 'Balik sa Grade One'

 

The Supreme Court defined the Writ of Kalikasan as a “remedy available to a natural or juridical person, entity authorized by law, people’s organization, non-governmental organization, or any public interest group accredited by or registered with any government agency, on behalf of persons whose constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology is violated, or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or private individual or entity, involving environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces.”

 

However, Dr. Emil Javier, Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), disagrees with the CA’s interpretation. “The entirety of medicine and agriculture is to modify the balance of the environment in favor of man. If ganoon basa nila sa Writ of Kalikasan, balik sila sa Grade One,” he said.

 

Farmers' petition

 

Earlier this month, farmers penned a petition to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a Court of Appeals ruling versus the commercial distribution of Bt eggplant seeds in the country. They claimed that “the Honorable Court of Appeals failed to consider the extent of the impact of its decision to the lives of the millions of farmers that have depended on, and continue to look to, science and technology to provide solutions [that] address the seemingly insurmountable challenges that beset their livelihood.”

 

Bt eggplants were created by introducing a gene from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium into the DNA of a regular eggplant. This enables the eggplant to produce a protein that targets pests, killing them by attacking their digestive systems.

 

Greenpeace’s attack: Uncalled-for?

 

In February 2011, members of the environmentalist group Greenpeace "attacked” one of the Bt eggplant testing sites in UP Los Baños at around 6:30 am, according to SEARCA. After supposedly destroying the gate into the field, they proceeded to uproot the plants.

 

“Because of their actions, we will have to deal legally with them as an institution,” said then UPLB chancellor Luis Velasco. He added that the perpetrators had violated the National Biosafety rules, and affronting academic freedom in the university.

 

The Greenpeace members wore protective gear, possibly in an attempt to reinforce misconceptions about the safety of GM crops.

No documented ill effects
 

However, there have been no reported cases of an individual falling ill because of the consumption of GM crops.

 

Bt corn has been commercially available in the Philippines for more than a decade with no negative side effects. It is currently the only GM crop being planted in the country.

 

During the public dialogue, Dr. Antonio Laurena, Research Professor at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) in UPLB, tackled the issue of whether or not genetically modified crops pose a threat to people or the environment.

 

Dr. Laurena stated that studies conducted on Bt corn (the only GM crop in the Philippines to date) show that only target organisms are affected by the corn’s Bt gene. Nontarget organisms—such as friendly insects and humans—can eat the corn without experiencing any side effects.

 

On the topic of posing an environmental threat, there are no local wild corn breeds that GM corn can crossbreed with. It also cannot crossbreed with Coix laycryma, corn’s oriental relative. In the Americas, interbreeding has not posed any important agricultural problems.

 

Dr. Laurena stressed that this does not mean that no problems will arise in the future, but all data gathered as of now show that GM crops do not cause any problems for the environment or for people.

 

Projected economic benefits

 

Eggplants are supposedly one of the most economically important vegetable crops in the Philippines, with the average income of farmers on a per-hectare basis amounting to around P380,000 per cropping season.

 

This industry is under threat, however, by the Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer (EFSB). According to Dr. Lourdes Taylo, study leader of the Bt Eggplant Project at IPB, the EFSB can cause up to 70-80% yield loss of crops. Farmers spend around 30% of their production costs on pesticides in an attempt to get rid of the pest. Dr. Taylo also explained that Bt-based pesticides degrade quickly under the heat or when it rains.

 

One alternative is to introduce natural predators into the fields, but according to Mario Navasero of the National Crop Protection Center, natural enemies of the EFSB can only control up to 20% of the pest population.

 

Because of the Bt gene, the Bt eggplant is naturally resistant to EFSB. Planting these as crops may be able to reduce up to 70% of pesticide spraying, Navasero explained.

 

Dr. Cesar Quicoy from the College of Economics and Management in UPLB said that if at least 50% of the hectares used for eggplant farming were growing the GM variety instead, there would be an additional net income of P 4.3 billion in 2013.

 

Dr. Javier believes that we needed to give our farmers the technology that will enable them to compete when the ASEAN integration next year comes around. By 2015, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) sets in motion the creation of a single market spanning the member nations.

 

“Nations that have the best technology win. We can fight in genetic engineering kasi mura siya unlike nuclear engineering,” Dr. Javier said. — TJD, GMA News