DA should promote solutions that prioritize nutrition — Greenpeace

Following the issuance of a writ of kalikasan stopping the release of genetically modified rice and eggplant products in the Philippines, Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Greenpeace) on Wednesday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to promote sustainable agricultural solutions.

"The onus is on the DA to instead promote sustainable agricultural solutions that would prioritize nutrition, provide ample resources for our farmers, and ensure resiliency as we face the worsening impacts of the climate crisis," Greenpeace campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement.

This came after the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to cease and desist from conducting activities related to the Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt Eggplant, and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) to cease and desist activities related to the genetically modified (GM), Vitamin A-enriched Golden Rice.

The biosafety permit for the commercial propagation of Golden Rice was also revoked.

The court applied the precautionary principle, which states that when human activities may lead to threats of serious and irreversible damage to the environment that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that threat.

For its part, the DA declined to comment due to sub judice.

Pelegrina, meanwhile, said the decision is a "monumental win" for Filipinos and Filipino farmers.

"Greenpeace has constantly noted that GM crops have been approved in the Philippines despite the lack of robust data on safety assessments submitted by proponents," she said.

"GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers," she added.

In a 143-page decision, the CA said that, "no consensus could be reached on the safety or harmful effects of golden rice and Bt Eggplant on humans and the environment."

The case stemmed from the petition filed by the Magsasaka At Siyentipiko para sa Pag-Unlad Agrikultura, Greenpeace, four other groups, and seven individuals.

The CA also granted the writ of continuing mandamus also in favor of petitioners, which ordered concerned government agencies to submit concrete mechanisms adopted to monitor all activities under under the Joint Department Circular Nos. 1-2016 and 1-2021. It also directed the agencies to submit all measures taken to strengthen the risk assessment procedure.

JDC 01-2016, which governs all aspects of genetically modified plant and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology, was issued by the DA, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In April 2023, the Supreme Court also issued a writ of kalikasan to stop the release of Bt Eggplant and Golden Rice.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier told GMA News Online that his office would comment on the CA ruling "when we receive a copy of the CA decision/order." The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) represents the heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, and the Bureau of Plant Industry, as well as UPLB, with regard to the case.

For his part, PRRI Executive Director John De Leon said the institute acknowledges the CA decision and the granting of the writ of kalikasan. He said the PRRI was "reviewing the implications of this to prepare our response." The Philippine Rice Research Institute, also known as PhilRice, is identified as PRRI in the court documents.

GMA News Online has also sought comment from UPLB regarding the appellate court's ruling. — VDV, GMA Integrated News