biolife newsmagazine

MAR 2012 - MAY 2012

Profiting fromPh coconut

varieties

New lines offer better products

ISSN 1908-3955

EDITORIALRule out the impossible

COVER STORYWindfall from natural ingredients seen By Joel C. Paredes

Local producers to gain as global global market expandsBy Ian Go

VIEWPOINT Go for natural ingredients By Candida B. Adalla, PhD

FOCUS Profiting from Ph coconut vaiietiesNew lines offer better productsBy June Rodriguez

Biofuel from coconuts

Advocating biotechnologyMuslims rally to support biotechnology

Advocating biotechnologyRoundtable dialogue on biotechnology in Mindanao

EVENTSBiotech coalition celebrates 10th year

FOCUS Communication study proves acceptability of biotech corn

EVENTSDA BPIU, BPI host GM food testing

TRENDSStakeholders speakKeep the momentum for Bt eggplant R&D

FOCUS Are you half-human or half-banana?

Biotech tames Botox

VIEWPOINTSlow but sure By Vivencio Mamaril, PhD

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CONTENTS

BIOLIFE is published by the BiotechnologyCoalition of the Philippines, Biotech-nology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center and the J. Burgos

Media Services Inc with editorial offices at theAdvocacy House, 2/F 8 Scout Chuatoco St.

Quezon City , Philippines.

Telefax No. (632) 372-8560Email: biotechnology_for_life @yahoo.com

Website: www.biotechforlife.com.ph

Our partner agencies are the Department of Agriculture, DA-Biotechnology Program

Office and Technical Committee for Public Awareness and Education of the Philip-

pine Agriculture and Fisheries, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture

(SEARCA) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Develop-

ment (PCARRD) of the Depart-ment of Science and Technology.

EDITA BURGOS, PhD • ABE MANALO •JUNE RODRIGUEZ • LYN RESURRECCION

Editorial Board

JOEL C. PAREDESEditorial Director

NEIL DOLORICONJOSE BURGOS III

Art Consultants

CRIS MICHELENAIssue Consultant

IAN GOEditorial Coordinator

JASON B. VALENZUELAGraphic Designer

CHAT TENAJEROSOMIGA LUMINTONEditorial Assistants

Cover by: Leonilo Doloricon

3MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

Humanity would not have prospered from

the Paleolithic had not our forebears rose from being hunters and gatherers in the wild, settled in communi-ties and learned how to feed themselves by engaging in rudimen-tary agriculture.

man continues to evolve till this very day and his capacity to master his own environment and act as the steward of nature’s bounty is still undergoing refinement, with the end in view of allocating the resources he needs to advance.

the evolutionary change 600,000 years ago that led to the development of human species eventually shook the foundations of the planet, with the species capable of becoming hunter rather than prey, and collectively acting to survive, and replicate themselves before establishing the family, the tribe, the community and the larger society.

Human beings labored in order to survive, and they did so by developing language to system-atize communication, eventually setting themselves apart from the hordes of other creatures, planting their own food, using fire to cook, keep themselves warm and keep beasts out of the way, and crafting the means to subdue animals who hinder their movements.

From trying to understand their own domain, man eventu-ally tried to know the cosmos, and the knowledge at hand led them to craft a belief system necessary to establish their communi-

ties and explain why they are on earth in the first place.

With a high level of sophis-tication, man broke the ground for science, which would rule out the impossible and use the resources of the earth to live without fear of being subdued and with a clear knowledge that nature can be mastered.

Biotechnology represents such mastery of nature, and those who continue to assert that advances in science should be feared rather than accepted are acting in the manner of the members of the lower rungs of the animal kingdom.

Opposition to biotech crops by those who resist progress poses a threat not only to science but to humanity as well.

Rejection of biotech crops (called Frankenfood by anti-biotech groups) and plant genetics would unleash pestilence and create toxic substances unparalleled in history and is akin to a failure to

understand the dialectics of matter.this rejection is anchored

on ignorance spiced with visceral fear of the unknown.

the advocates of this line of thinking are a bunch that represents a throwback to the Paleolithic.

they regard the impossible as possible, and the argument they posit – that it is better to err on the side of caution – is an abdica-tion of their rationality and their return to the days of animism.

much of the debate centered on the non-desirability of biotech crops rests on the rabid dislike of anything new, mistaking biotech to be the handiwork of the alchemist, the conjurer, the wizard and the zombie, if you will.

Fear of reality cannot be cured, and the failure to wean the facts from fiction betrays just how mutations could give a bad name to evolution and progress.

accepting reality is completely rational, but denying it is the hallmark of the dogmatist.

Rule out the impossibleEDITORIAL

Leon

ilo D

oloric

on

4 B I O L I F E

PResident aquinO must have thought of natural ingredients as one of the factors that would boost Philippine farming

when he delivered a fitting tribute to Agricul-ture secretary Proceso J. alcala in his third state of the nation address (sOna) on July 23.

By Joel C. Paredes

COVER STORY

5MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

COVER STORY

• Papain- from Carica papaya; used as meat tenderizer, to clarify beer, treat wool and silk before dyeing, de-hair hides before tanning; also for skin whitening and ulcer treatment.• Corosolic Acid-from Lagerstroimia speciosa (Banaba); a triterpenoid compound which accelerates and stimulates glucose transport into cells; decreases blood glucose in diabetic animals and humans; also exhibits anti-obesity activity.• Carageenan-from various Philippine seaweeds such as Caulerpa racemosa; used in food primarily as gelling, thickening or stabilizing agents.• Moringa Oil-from Moringa oleifera; has nourishing and emollient properties giving it benefits for use in skin and hair care products. Also used as a substitute for olive oil; as a food supplement, antibiotic and biofuel feedstock.• Rice Bran Oil- from Oryza sativa; used in cosmetics and personal care products like those for skin conditioning; healthy drinks.• Mango Butter-from Mangifera indica; skin care products, softens and protects dry skin.• Fucoxanthin-from Philippine seaweeds, Hydroclathus clatharus, Sargassum silliquosum; used as a nutritional supplement, recent studies have shown its potential anti-obesity (promotes fat burning) and anti-diabetic properties.• Bixin-from Bixa orellana (Annatto/Atsuete) or Pineapple; oil soluble yellow-orange to orange colorant; antioxidant• Bromelain-from Ananas comosus or Pineapple; used for tenderizing meat and chill proofing beer; also used for stabilizing latex paints and in leather-tanning process; employed as a digestive enzyme and used for its anti-inflammatory action.• Black Plum Concentrate-from Black plum / Duhat, Syzygium cuminii ; rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, commonly used in the production of jams, jellies, puddings, juice and wine.• Elemi Oil-from Canarium Luzonicum (Pili nut); commonly used as coating for glass and for the production of fragrances. Also known for its therapeutic properties as an analgesic, expectorant, tonic, antiseptic and stimulant.• Marine Bioactives-Natural red colorant for food and cosmetics, Kappaphycus Halymenia, Eucheuma, Marine Microalgae and Alginate.

consumer trends and new market opportunities.”

One major development was the surge in media coverage on wellness, causing many people to redefine their concept of health “not merely as the absence of disease, but of increased vitality.”

Concern for vitality and not only vanity has been a big plus for wellness.

“this has been one of the growth drivers for foods, beverages, and cosmetics which incorporates functional ingredients,” the study said.

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go for it, particularly now that the world market is turning green.

two of the country’s biggest pharmaceutical companies have prioritized the development of natural ingredients for their medicines, but they have so far only focused on lagundi, now a popular medicine for cough.

natural ingredients, adalla adds, are derived from crops and plants that are indigenous to our soil and climatic conditions and even from plants that could be introduced and produced in substantial volumes.

these crops and plants are easy to manage and require minimum inputs.

However, the wellness market is still surprisingly dependent on imports, with essential oils used in spas coming from China, india and Vietnam.

For instance, turmeric, which is known as “luyang dilaw” and has become popular as an herbal supplement, is imported from india when this can be grown locally.

unfortunately, the country’s biggest food ingredient company still imports 8,000 metric tons (mt) of tamarind for its “sampaloc” broth when the tree grows practically everywhere and is standard fare for regional dishes.

A good start

Adalla stresses that her office has undertaken a study with Hybridgim Consulting, inc. on how to capitalize on global demand for Philippine ingredi-ents and found out that the country can join the bandwagon and even lead the pack.

“the result of that study showed there is a big market, a global market, for natural ingredients,” she adds.

as proof of this, the study said the industry has been growing over the past few years “as it responds to shifting

indeed, alcala has been talking about pump priming the natural ingredients industry even as he grapples with the herculean task of securing food sufficiency by the yearend of 2013.

He knows whereof he speaks, and the good secretary is talking not only of rice, other nutritious staples like cardaba and cassava, and that natural ally of everyone’s heart—banana—but also of vegeta-bles, natural ingredients and everything else that comes from the topsoil to support this country of nearly 100 million.

now, he is keen on listening to reports about the potentials of the natural ingredients industry, a sector of the farming industry that had been silently raising revenues for the past decade or so, earning precious dollars while everyone was concerned about rice shortages and unremit-ting imports that had enriched farmers in Vietnam and thailand.

One thing going for the natural ingredients sector is that it requires only basic manufac-turing processes and overhead costs are far less than what other industries have to endure.

However, alcala is concerned about how the industry could be sustained and how imports for the health and wellness products could be reduced and eventually eliminated.

Window of opportunity

“it’s actually being looked at now (by government) because it provides an opportunity to our farmers for additional income, particularly those in the uplands,” says dr. Candida adalla, program director of the department of agricul-ture’s Biotechnology Program implementation unit (da-BPiu).

adalla says there is a niche for natural ingredients the world over and it becomes a matter of duty for Filipino entrepreneurs to

6 B I O L I F E

COVER STORY

Pharmaceutical ingredients have already created niches, with demand for new product categories such as “nutraceu-ticals” and “cosmeceuticals” stronger than expected.

the global market for natural ingredients was even forecast to reach $18 billion by 2013.

the global market for cosmetics that use ingredients which confer health or wellness benefits were projected to grow by 8.1 percent, with the demand for the ingredients outstrip-ping the demand for products.

now, there’s also less emphasis on essential oils and aroma chemicals, with research and develop-ment (R&d) by ingredients companies leading to the shift.

in the last three decades, there

had been substantial growth in herbal medicine market globally.

today, 80 percent of the people in developing countries report-edly rely on plant-based products for health care that are widely available and more affordable.

Potential of locally-grown natural ingredients

as the seventh most biodiverse country in the world, the Philip-pines has the inherent capacity to produce and trade these ingredi-ents, the study reported.

By harnessing biodiver-sity, the door is wide open for a more intensive exploita-tion of the great potential of medicinal plants, functional foods, natural food dyes, tropical fruit flavors, and essential oils.

the study also segmented the market for natural ingredi-ents in different ways.

to a product manufac-turer, it is reportedly useful to classify the ingredients by use.

some ingredients are used as raw materials in the processing of secondary ingredients, while others are used directly by end-product manufacturers.

it also reported that in its survey of international buyers of natural ingredients which included 50 ingredients from 34 Philippine species, the top 10 ingredients based on quantity requirements were punica-lagin (from pomegranate), coconut oil, papain, fucoxan-thin aliginate (sargassum), natural red dye, bixin, norbixin, bromelain and carpaine.

But based on metrics and on the market data gathered, the study came out with top 12 ingredients which could be developed in the next few years.

these are papain, corosolic acid, carageenan, moringa oil, rice bran oil, mango butter, focuxanthin, bixin, bromalain, black plum concentrate, elemi oil and marine bioactives.

in 2006, the study noted that Philippine share in natural products was $400 million, with virgin coconut

Today, 80 percent of

the people in developing

countries report-edly rely on plant-based products for health care

that are widely available and

more affordable.

WINDFALL FROM PAGE 5

7MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

oil (VCO) cornering three-fourths of the market.

VCO is used as a food supplement and cosmetic ingredient.

apart from VCO, the list of top plants that are commonly used included banaba, lagundi, ampalaya and malunggay (or moringa).

the study, however, noted that only a few private firms are using biotechnology.

as the level of techno-logical complexity increases, private sector use decreases.

Biotechnology is oftentimes applied in agriculture and industry or processing of farm products.

according to adalla, the potential of biotechnology in natural ingredients is actually on bio-processing, citing how enzymes technology can get “more and better” quality products compared to traditional processing methods of chemical or steam distillation.

it also offers almost zero environmental impact.

through enzymes technology, extractions were improved for natural essential oils extraction for culinary, health and wellness.

among the products that can use the technology are fish oils (omega 3), turmeric, citronella, elemi oil (from the pulp of the pili nut) and ylang-ylang, among others.

it has also improved the digestibility of root crops chips like cassava and camote as energy source for animal feeds.

Road map for industry development

Based on the da-Hybridgim study, adalla says they have prepared a roadmap that aims to catalyze the development of natural ingredients industry for at least three priority species within five years.

PH natural ingredients industry rises

Local producers to gain as global market expands

IN A wORLD that sees profit and benefit from things natural, it is no longer strange to see agricultural producers jumping into the natural ingredients bandwagon.

Indeed, we now find plastic manufacturers in the United States returning to the laborato-ries to coax fungi like mushrooms to produce plastic-like, recyclable and biodegradable substances that can replace petroleum-based resins that churn out plastics and other products.

US scientists call the process biomimesis, with the fungi coaxed to copy industrial production of plastics.

If the process can be developed and become viable in the long haul, plastic manufac-turers will be run to the ground.

For Dr. Rainier B. Villanueva, a physician who abides by the Hippocratic Code and the apostle Luke, natural ingredients are second to none in offering a galaxy of treatments and benefits that synthetically developed substances can hardly surpass.

He is an advocate of natural ingredients and rightly so.Villanueva is the founding president of the Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philip-

pines, Inc. (CHIPI).TURN TO PAGE 8

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Artw

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NILO

DOL

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By Ian Go

8 B I O L I F E

There are limitless opportunities for natural ingredients, he says, since as far as regulatory agencies worldwide are concerned, there is actually no universally-accepted definition of a natural product, even among industrialized countries.

Slew of definitions

The US Food and Drug Administration only defined natural ingredients in this wise: “Ingredients extracted directly from plants or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically.”

However, the doctor admits, CHIPI defines natural ingredients as “a product-that is considered natural when the active ingredient is derived from plants, minerals, marine resources, and animals that are minimally processed and without synthetic ingredients.”

The Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients also defines it as a “product that is derived from plant, animal or microbial sources, primarily through physical processing, sometimes facilitated by simple chemical reactions such as acidification, basification, ion exchange, hydrolysis, and salt formation as well as microbial fermen-tation."

What distinguishes natural ingredients from others, Villanueva says, is the fact that they are produced using minimal physical processing.

They are directly extracted using simple methods, simple chemical reactions or from naturally occurring biological processes, he notes, while another definition puts them as having been “grown, harvested, raised and processed in an ecological manner.”

Natural ingredients should also be free of petrochemicals and must be extracted using solvents derived from natural ingredi-ents themselves, must not be exposed to irradiation.

Biotechnology for growth CHIPI believes that biotechnology can

be of help to the natural ingredients industry.Using the organic protocol for product

development, advanced biotechnology technique can speed up the extraction of natural ingredients.

Moreover, advanced research can permit the industry to understand the

active ingredients, their chemistry and their efficacy.

By working to standardize processes and identifying the compounds and substances in the natural ingredients down to the molecular level, biotechnology can provide the scientific basis for improving the products derived from these ingredients.

In the end, the methods developed by biotechnology can provide the catalyst for enhancing the natural process of extraction and improvement.

Affordable and safe

Natural ingredients had been with us for millennia, the doctor expounds, and by lore and history, they have proven to be effica-cious.

From garlic to pepper, onions to oregano, bitter gourd or charantia or ampalaya to moringa or malunggay, natural ingredients have proven to be safe medica-tions, lending wisdom to the adage of old that food is medicine.

Cod liver oil, detested by children and adults alike, had been effective medication, as did fish maw and the flesh of scaly fish.

Villanueva says folklore has reinforced the popular thinking that guavas contain more vitamin C than Tang, and that the sinigang we feast on can cure you of colds and take the cobwebs off your inebriated brain.

These and more are arguments for natural ingredients, and even the jaded physicians who swear by the scalpel that modern medicine can cure practi-cally all diseases, have conceded that the potions of old can also cure the most basic ailments.

Nature provides cure

What makes natural ingredients attrac-tive is that they are so common, accessible and affordable that researchers need not go far to shriek eureka in finding cure to some ailments.

Since the Philippines has one of the best biodiversities on the planet, Villanueva is certain that plants and terrestrial and marine animals may also provide solutions to the most defiant of diseases hereabouts.

CHIPI is one organization that seeks common ground between modern medicine

LOCAL PRODUCERS FROM PAGE 7

WINDFALL FROM PAGE 7

this roadmap intends to put the Philippines firmly as a major player in the world’s natural ingredients industry.

among the ingredients that can be harnessed are the essential oil from citronella which is the ingredient for insect repellant products and crop protec-tion inputs, along with its use as scents for soaps, lotions, air fresheners and cosmetics.

another is the essential oil from annatto (atsuete), which is a natural red colorant for food and beverages, cosmetics hair and skin products.

turmeric, too, can be developed, with the oil being used for pharma-ceutical purposes, particularly for treatment of liver diseases and abdominal ailments.

this is apart from turmer-ic’s being a natural yellow-orange colorant for food, beverage and animal feed and as a powder for culinary use.

the roadmap intends to support all sectors involved in the value chain, from the growers and producers to the manufacturers.

it outlines the formation of new clusters of bio-based industries comprised of farming, bio-inputs, bio-processing and manufac-turing, resulting in additional job and livelihood opportunities for people living in the countryside.

Farming for natural ingredi-ents can also develop idle and unproductive agricultural lands.

agriculture secretary Proceso alcala has been “very receptive and is very interested” in developing natural ingredi-ents, according to adalla.

if their plans push through, the DA is confident that within the next three years they can develop a vibrant natural ingredients industry.

adalla doesn’t see any problem in promoting natural ingredients among farmers.

“the farmer will always plant whatever (is offered) as long as there is a market,” she concludes.TURN TO PAGE 10

9MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

COVER STORY

Notes: a. Data based on survey conducted during the NI Growers’ and Manufacturers Summit on Feb 18, 2012 at the Sulo Hotelb. Data and information based on internet researchc. Data based on Natural Ingredients Market and Industry Characterization commissioned by Hybridigm Consulting Inc. in 2007d. Data based on the mapping NI survey conducted in 2011-2012 as part of the “Mapping Natural Ingredients in the Philippines Project”e. 2011 Accomplishment Report of the “Production and Market Potential of Selected Natural Ingredients in the Philippines” by Dr. Salvador Catelo (UPLB-CEM)



Priority crops/species are based on the results of the study on natural ingredients industry and market characterization, prioritized list of the Philippine Pharmacopea, and Feedback from the Chamber or Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Inc.

Priority natural ingredients/speciesWINDFALL FROM PAGE 7

10 B I O L I F E

and traditional alternative medicine. CHIPI is a founding member of the ASEAN Alliance of Traditional Medicine Industries (AATMI), which was established in 2008.

It was founded in 2001 with only 11 companies, mostly small firms with a total annual turnover of P100 million.

Today, the number has grown and 80 of these companies have combined annual revenues of about P2 billion.

Affordability is another advantage that Villanueva can cite in promoting natural ingredients apart from their being ecologi-cally sound.

The argument is that natural ingredients are cures that grow, have life and provide health benefits without going through the elaborate manufacturing process in labora-tories and pharmaceutical plants.

As head of CHIPI, Villanueva can attest to the fact that natural ingredients can be another winner, the way nata de coco, virgin coconut oil and other products did.

Nature has a way of healing the world, it is said, and natural ingredients have shown to all and sundry that they can heal man.

A winner

The Philippines still has to make a toehold in the natural ingredients and organic market worldwide.

Villanueva says the market was $38.6 billion in 2006, double the figure in 2000, and the biggest players are the most advanced industrialized countries in the European Union (EU), the United States and Japan.

“The global market for natural products industry is huge, and the Philippines has the potential to be a big player in this market,” Villanueva adds.

In 2009, the country exported health s u p p l e m e n t s

LOCAL PRODUCERS FROM PAGE 8

amounting to only $35,861.43, with the EU accounting for euro 26,532.76.

Medicinal plants and food chipped in $3,711.93 and euro 2,746.34.

Personal care products accounted for $1,876,143.48 and euro 1,388,100.

Other products chipped in $282,406.73 and euro 208,943.20.

All told, the Philippines sold $2,198,122.57 and euro 1,826,322.40.

These are puny figures when ranged against the global market sales and CHIPI will be in the business if it engages in more research and strengthened promotion and marketing campaigns overseas.

Maximize efforts

For a country that has had 3,000 years of medical lore, China has 4,941 medicinal plant species out of 26,092 or 18.9 percent while the Philippines is 7th in the list,

with 850 medicinal plants out of 8,931 species or 9.5 percent.

These figures should not make CHIPI members feel blue since many of the 3,500 endemic plant species in the country have not been subjected to study and assay.

The Philippines has 5 percent of the world’s plant species (13,500) and 1,500 of them have been classified as medicinal plants.

Of this number, 850 have had their phytochemical components identified and 120 have been scientifically validated for safety and efficacy.

It is a long way before all the available medicinal plants are identi-fied and utilized to the maximum but already, 10 have been promoted by the Department of Health (DOH) as medicinal and five have been allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be registered as drugs.

Apart from garlic (Allium sativa or bawang), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia or ampalaya) and guava (Psidium guadjava or bayabas), the other medicinal plants approved by the DOH are pepper-mint (Mentha cordifolia or yerba Buena), ngai camphor (Blumea balsamifera or sambong), Rangoon creeper (Qusiqualis indica or niyog-niyogan), 5-leaf chaste tree (Vetex negundo or lagundi), Acapulco (Casta alata or akapulko), shiny bush (Peperonia pellucid or ulasimang bato) and wild tea (Ehnetia microphylla or tsaang gubat).-

Herb farming has already become a winner for the farmers in Palawan who have joined the pilot study by DOH and the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCART), a CHIPI member.

By cultivating lagundi, they have earned P30,000 a year and the financial returns are increasing over the years.

11MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

VIEWPOINT

ents industry is premised on the demand for wellness products that are not generally therapeutic but are concerned with maintaining vitality.

in a world with an aging population and an increased awareness of disease preven-tion, consumers spend billions in the hunt for the new elixir of life, which is akin to the search for the fabled treasures of the new World, and buyers need not look far and wide for the substances their hearts and minds desire.

they’re all here.Based on our research, the uses

of natural ingredients in food cover natural colors, flavors and sweeteners, vegetable oils and fats, stabilizers and emulsifiers, preservatives and antioxidants, functional food and nutraceuticals.

For cosmetics, covered are natural colors, vegetable oils, fats and waxes, essential oils and oleoresins, vegetable saps and extracts, raw plant material and cosmeceuticals.

Pharmaceuticals include medicinal and aromatic plants, medicinal and aromatic vegetable saps and extracts, vegetable alkaloids, herbal medicines and herbal supplements.

the task of the da is to see to it that there is a market for all the natural ingredients that the country’s millions of farmers can produce, which means that it will be engaged in research and development (R&D) to find

Go for natural ingredientsBy Candida B. Adalla, PhD

this is an opportunity that the Philippines should seize since it is the seventh in rank as far as biodiversity is concerned, and in fact, it has practically hundreds of plant species that could be utilized for their inherent pharmaceutical, nutritional and cosmetic applications.

For this reason, the depart-ment of agriculture (da) is crafting a roadmap that would allow the country’s farmers to cultivate, harvest and process the plant species that potentially could produce what the global market needs.

Biotechnology has everything to do with natural ingredients, from determining the extraction protocol to the screening of the crops, shrubs, herbs and other plant species that can be cultivated in a massive manner, until the consolidation of all the information required to have a broader grasp of an industry that could be nurtured to breach the global market.

What follows is the identi-fication of the areas that can profitably become produc-tion areas for the species that bear the natural ingredients required by the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

thereafter, production can be piloted in some areas and the business incubation process follows before the product is developed and production proceeds apace.

theoretically, the upsurge of the natural ingredi-

out how the substances can be more efficacious and packaged into products that will not only have niche but a substantial presence in the global market.

next is the marketing of these products, which means the country must also avoid the situation when there are so many manufacturers of the same products, with the end result being a disastrous internal competi-tion that reduces market penetra-tion overseas and domestically.

natural ingredients are here to stay, meaning that it has to be treated as market that will be for keeps and not only for the nonce, not a fad but a way of life in a world shying away from the synthetic and embracing the organic.

With a clear policy to nurture the market, the da is on the way to fostering teamwork all along the natural ingredients value chain, from R&d to the growers, proces-sors and manufacturers.

Government has a big stake in the natural ingredi-ents market since it will not only lead to higher incomes for farmers, entrepreneurs and the state itself but it will also foster the kind of teamwork needed to conquer a world hankering for unique products that the Philippines can offer.

it will also be science at work for the benefit of Filipino scientists, producers, entrepreneurs and for the greater glory of humanity.

in a WORld that has turned full circle, the value of natural ingredients has risen, and the market for products manufactured with the least

processing has expanded at an unprecedented rate.

Dr. Adalla is the Director of the Department of Agriculture-B i o t e c h n o l o g y P r o g r a m Implementation Unit.

12 B I O L I F E

New lines offer better products

FOCUS

By June Rodriguez

Profiting from Ph coconut varieties

nothing in a coconut is lost and for this reason, it has been regarded as an efficient member of the plant kingdom.

it has been an important agricultural commodity in the Philippines, primarily because of copra, the dried meat, or kernel of the coconut, from which oil is extracted, and from where the coconut cake used for feedstock comes from.

luckily for the coconut and the industry it has spawned, the Philippine Coconut authority-Zamboanga Research Center (PCa-ZRC) has continued to study the coconut and apply the advanced processes of biotechnology to create high-value products from it.

PCa-ZRC’s mon Rivera said that since 1992, the

coconut has been advancing because of biotechnology.

“With the use of dna markers, the selection became faster. We use assisted selection and the materials’ potentials can easily be seen,” he said.

“normally, when you say PCa 15-1, it takes a minimum of 15 years of evaluation before you are confident with the material’s performance. With biotechnology, from one to three years, you are already confident,” he continued.

Rivera said that what the farmers need to develop is an entrepreneurial mindset, and looking for coconut products with a good market potential is a good start.

He said that at present, coconut water is the most

tHe COCOnut has been the subject of treatises and scientific research and all of these validate the claim that coconut

is not only the tree of life. it is life itself.

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13MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

FOCUS

Profiting from Ph coconut varieties

viable product from coconut.“these days, the focus is on

athletes’ drink, sports drink. and they saw the potential of coconut water that has been used since wartime,” Rivera said.

He added that according to a French coconut breeder he talked to, the Brazilians, who supply the us with its coconut water needs, irrigate their plantations and use six kilograms of fertil-izer per tree, and they produce 250 nuts per tree per year.

“Our dwarf variety only produces 120-130 because we don’t irrigate,” he said.

according to Rivera, we are the number one exporter of coconut in the world.

“We are leading because, first, our area is second only to indonesia in size. then, we are not consumers,” he explained.

Coco sugar is another product that Rivera believes has good market potential.

“We address nutrition and the health of a person here. Based on our analysis, coco

“I am in the timber utilization division. More on furniture, processing of handicrafts. I sort of shifted careers, trying to deviate from the timber being just timber. I want to convert wood into ethanol. We really need biofuels. I said to myself, this is the need of the times. Biofuels,” Melencion revealed.

Together with Louie Peñamora, chief of the PCA-ZRC Timber Utilization Division, Melencion proposed the project “Development of a Barangay-based Fuel Ethanol Production System Utilizing Coconut Inflorescence Sap,” which aims to augment the coconut farmers’ income through the production of bioethanol from coconut sap using simple facilities.

The collective production of bioethanol from the farmers will then be sold to oil companies for their ethanol blending requirements for gasoline.

They are also the proponents of “Coconut-based Biomass and Biofuels Project” (for solid and liquid biofuels.)

Both believe that coconut biomass represents a huge potential as a source of biofuels. If properly utilized, it can help supply our energy needs with an environment-friendly, non-food competing renewable fuel.

“In our biomass and biofuel project, the liquid coco ethanol, our objective is more on cellulosic ethanol. For the time being, we lack equipment, so we started with a simple distiller. Later on we will go for the cellulosic ethanol,” Melencion said.

“Simple lang. Parang lambanog. In the traditional lambanog, we can only come up with around 50 percent ethanol. We have made improvements and got 75 percent ethanol volume,” he added.

Melencion, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Products Engineering from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), said the target is 99.9 percent ethanol for it to be used as fuel. But distillation yields only a maximum of 95 to 96 percent ethanol even if you distill several times.

“Distillation depends on the heat and the speed of heating. If you heat it fast, the distillation is also fast but the product is low proof, the percentage of ethanol. In slow distillation, there are better chances of getting 95-96 percent ethanol,” he stressed.

Hence, there is a need for another process like the use of zeolite, which can be used as a sieve to separate water from the ethanol.

“Zeolite is used like a sieve, molecular sieve. The water is left, the ethanol passes,” Melencion explained.

“The low proof ethanol will be brought to a center where it can be made 100 percent or 99.9 percent ethanol for fuel,” he said.

Sad to say, the project is still pegged at the distillation process.

He conceived the biofuel idea in 2008, upon returning to the Philippines after getting his Doctorate in Wood Science Technology from the Mississippi State University.

Peñamora, on the other hand, said they have compressed coconut husk dust and turned it to charcoal.

“The coir, it’s fiber. ‘Yung dust, ‘yung dust mismo. About 70 percent of the husk, so there is more dust. There is only about 30 percent fiber. So it’s better now. It has been asked in the industry how you can further utilize coconut? You can use it as biofuel, solid biofuel. Carbonize it. How to carbonize? Compress it raw,” he said.

“We are still looking at the potential of coco wood for sugar. Sugar can be converted to bio-ethanol. I’m talking of coco wood,” he added.

“Using the nuts is easier, since the sap is already there. With a little fermentation, it’s already alcohol. Distillation, after distillation…ethanol na. Whereas, if you use wood, magha-hydrolysis ka pa,” he added.

Peñamora, who earned his Forest Products Engineering degree from UPLB and also has a Master’s degree in forestry, believes that the entire coconut tree can be used for the production of ethanol. “May potential ‘yan.”

NEIL MELENCION of the Philippine Coconut Authority-Zamboanga Research Center Timber Utilization Division believes there is more to coconut timber than just timber.

PCA’s Melencion and Peñamora

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14 B I O L I F E

However, these benefits are generally unknown in the aRmm in spite of the fact that islamic scholars the world over have welcomed biotech crops and saw their potentials for farmers in many countries where muslims dominate.

“there is a need for the partici-pation of different sectors in the discussion of biotechnology and its adoption in muslim communi-ties to provide a balance in the development of policies,” said dr. Carmen abubakar during the recently-held workshop-seminar entitled "Biotechnology: Harnessing the Power of life" held at the al nor Conven-tion Center in Cotabato City.

a total of 121 representatives from Basilan, sulu, tawi-tawi, lanao del sur, maguindanao and shariff Kabunsuan led by aRmm agriculture secretary sangkula a. tindick came to listen to the discussions about the viability of biotech crops like the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn that is now cultivated in about 700,000 hectares nationwide.

Bt corn was tested in south Cotabato in spite of resistance from some groups but the tests continued and led to the commercialization of the crop in 2002.

such commercialization,

PCA Zamboanga research chief Mon Rivera

sugar’s glycemic index is 35 plus or minus 5, which is very healthy. there are already too many diabetic Filipinos because of their lifestyle and this is a very good option,” he said.

the PCa-ZRC multipurpose Cooperative, which has more than 100 members, produces 1.5 tons of coco sugar per month.

“the pick-up price is P180 per kilo when it is regularly packaged. it sells at P200 when pouched. the price is still lower than most other alternatives,” he said.

For coco honey, Rivera said that it also has potential, but there is a research gap in standardizing the cooking process. He explained that this is so because honey still uses water.

“Coco honey’s shelf life is not as long as coco sugar’s. We have coco sugar here that is more than five years old. It has discolored a bit but the quality remains the same,” he said.

“Honey’s shelf life depends on the way you cook it, the tempera-ture. and of course you store it in a glass container to retain its quality. When properly done, you can store it from about six months to a year,” he said.

asked how many varieties the research center now has, Rivera said: “a total of 263 successions. successions because

in the gene bank, the varieties are coded as successions. Plus we have 67 hybrids. We have recommended them for commer-cial production. the problem is how we produce them. to this day, PCa still produces several coconut varieties, depending on funds available.”

“We have commercialized ‘orgullo.’ Open pollination was used and it is still hybrid. For example, Catigan by laguna has a potential copra yield from four to six tons of copra per hectare. it is PCa 15 -1,” he said.

“these are all hybrids. We have a second generation which we hand-pollinated. it is more synthesized because of the breeder’s interven-tion. the spread of the genes is better and the potential higher. We expect single crosses, it became three-way, four-way, even six-way crosses. so you can combine six good charac-teristic of tall varieties chosen as parents,” he continued.

Rivera revealed that the ‘matag,’ of which malaysia is very proud of, is actually malayan red dwarf by tagnanan.

“actually it is ours. it is our PCa 15-2. they got the technology. they have the malayan red material. they acquired the pollen and they used it,” he concluded.

BiOteCHnOlOGy advocates are

spreading the gospel of biotechnology in the autonomous Region in muslim mindanao (aRmm), noting that biotech crops with increased nutritional value could be propagated in the fertile agricultural land of the region.

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15MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

which was approved by the Bureau of Plant industry (BPi), meant that Bt corn is safe as food and feed based on the strict requirements of the biosafety rules governing biotech crops.

the supposedly dreadful effects of the purported "monster crop" on humans and the environment did not materialize, biotech experts said, and many Filipino farmers are now cashing in on higher yields and increased profits from Bt corn.

“the poor are not only those with the lowest incomes but also those who are the most deprived of health, education and other aspects of human well-being. national governments and the interna-tional community need to respond to the lessons of experience and to adjust to changing circumstances,” tindick said.

“the issues in food security are diverse and needs the concerted effort of everyone,” he continued.

“a well informed public can make enligthened decisions,” abubakar added.

she also highlighted the importance of the ulama, educated class of muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies.

“to do this, the ulama must also be well-informed. the ulama should sit together with scientists to discuss and address biotechnological issues,” she added.

On the part of the scientists, she said that as much as possible, they should try to explain scientific issues like biotechnology on layman’s terms.

“scientists should explain biotech-nological process in simple terms so the public can benefit from the informa-tion,” abubakar emphasized.

she then underlined the active role that the academe should play in properly understanding biotechnology.

“more educational materials should be provided in schools,” she said.

Finally, she persuaded her brothers and sisters in faith to be seekers of truth and knowledge through science so that they may someday spread the good word about biotechnology.

“muslim students should be encouraged to major in biotech-nology to provide a wide pool of scientists to undertake researches in this area that would appreciate the islamic world view,” she concluded.

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16 B I O L I F E

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unfortunately, even a scientist of einstein’s stature could fail to make someone understand something, even if he’s of legal age. that’s if both his mind and communication lines are closed.

indeed, there’s no substitute to an open dialogue, especially on a scientific matter like biotechnology.

this explains why the depart-ment of agriculture-Biotechnology Program implementation unit (da-BPiu) and the department of agrarian Reform Provincial agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (daR-PaRCOm) Region 10 agreed to engage in such a dialogue in Cagayan de Oro City to clarify misconceptions on biotechnology , including the issue on genetically modified crops, particularly on Bacillus thuringi-ensis (Bt) corn, which has gained commercial success in the country.

the meeting was organized in partnership with the Biotech-nology Coalition of the Philip-pines (BCP) and the Biotechnology for life media and advocacy Resource Center (BmaRC).

engineer Felix B. aguhob, daR Regional director, said that it was timely to discuss biotech-nology, which continues to remain controversial in the agriculture sector, apparently due to lack of information in the field.

asian Farmers Regional network (asFaRnet)

Chairperson Rey Cabanao then shared his experience with Bt corn, which was followed by an open dialogue among the participants excellently moderated by daR Project Officer 11 Crisanto Abellanosa.

Business opportunities in biotechnology were discussed by dr. Candida adalla the program director of the da-BPiu.

“in crop production, using genetically modified (GM) varieties and hybrids produces more yield and results in overall reduction in farm labor, thus becoming a more profitable endeavor, “she said.

“in bioprocessing, enzyme technology offers improvement in efficiency and offers better quality and globally accept-able products. Bioprocessing also offers almost zero environ-mental impact compared to traditional processing methods.”

according to adalla, biotech-nology, particularly enzyme technology in the extrac-tion of natural ingredients, can revolutionize agricul-ture-based industries.

after adalla, university of the Philippines los Baños

BiOteCH director Reynaldo ebora followed with his presen-tation “Biosafety: the Regula-tory aspect of Biotechnology.”

edwin Paraluman, president of the Philippine Farmer’s advisory Board of the national Food authority then enlight-ened the delegates on how modern agricultural technolo-gies empower farmers.

“Our experience in the Philip-pines before the approval of the commercial planting of Bt maize is that so many negative issues about genetically modified crops were presented with misconception and fears. despite the negative publicity, we farmers have grown biotech maize,” he said.

“My first experience in planting Bt maize is that it increased my yield form 3.5 tons in non-Bt to 7.2 tons and i was offered a maximum price, for the buyer of my corn was amazed why my corn is so clean and not damaged by corn borer,” he added.

“the approval of the depart-ment of agriculture of the commercial planting of Bt corn in december 2002 has made us very happy,” he said.

Roundtable dialogue on biotechnology in MindanaoalBeRt einstein

once said: “if you cannot explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

The roundtable dialogue participants in Cagayan De Oro

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17MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

EVENTS

Reaffirms commitment to push propagation of biotech crops

BCP issued this declaration as it celebrated its 10th year by holding a convention at the traders Hotel in manila from may 17 to 18.

agham Rep. angelo Palmones keynoted the convention, which had as its theme “Biotech for all seasons and for all Reasons.”

dr. Rhodora R. aldemita, BCP vice president, acted as master of ceremonies during the convention.

BCP has been pushing for the development of Pinoy geneti-cally-modified organisms (GMOs) like papaya with longer shelf life and conventionally bred for virus-resistance trait, Bacillus

BCP issued this declaration as it celebrated its 10th year by holding a convention at the traders Hotel in manila from may 17 to 18.

agham Rep. angelo Palmones keynoted the convention, which

tHe BiOteCHnOlOGy Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) has reaffirmed its commitment to push for the adoption

of biotech crops that are healthy and friendly to the environment in support of the food security program and the campaign to increase the incomes of food producers.

Biotech advocates led by Agham Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones (left) and BCP president Nina Gloriani (second from right) in the ribbon-cutting ceremonies during BCP’s 10th anniversary celebration at Traders Hotel near downtown Manila.

had as its theme “Biotech for all seasons and for all Reasons.”

dr. Rhodora R. aldemita, BCP vice president, acted as master of ceremonies during the convention.

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thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant that is resistant against fruit and shoot borers, and Golden Rice, which addresses Vitamin A deficiency among hundreds of thousands of nursing mothers and children.

the paper of agriculture undersecretary segfredo serrano on the government’s biotech-nology program was read by dr. Candida adalla, head of the Biotechnology Program implemen-tation unit of the department of agriculture (da-BPiu).

BCP president dr. nina Gloriani also addressed the partici-pants on why biotech is more fun and how it would eventu-ally buttress the country’s food security in spite of criticisms hurled by parties virulently opposed to Gm crops and agricul-tural biotechnology in general.

She also moderated the first session which focused on biotech-nology’s impact on health and wellness. in this session dr. Catherine lynn silao discussed “Genetic Counseling in the era of Personalized medicine.”

dr. Carmencita david-Padilla also lectured on “expanded newborn screening among Filipino newborns,” while dr. Rainier B. Villanueva discussed the “Benefits of Natural Ingredients.”

dr. Ker yin lee tackled “China’s Biopharmaceutical development.”

during the second session on “Biotech for Fun and Profit,” dr. Priscilla C. sanchez lectured on “Influence of Yeast Strains in Producing quality tropical Fruit Wines,” revealing how these wines could earn in the domestic as well as foreign markets.

dr. susana maldo mercado spoke on “Biotech microbial Rennet for Cheese making”as a cheaper alternative to the imported rennet now used by manufacturers of cheese.

maria alma a. laurena focused on “Home-made soymilk from Biotech soybean: Business and

A musical number breaks the seriousness of the discussions during the BCP anniversary as biotech advocates take turns in pushing for the wider cultivation of biotech crops, all in the greater interest of Filipino farmers and entrepreneurs. The anniversary was one fitting moment that energized the biotechnology community into renewing their commitment for a better deal for the country’s food producers and consumers.

19MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

EVENTS

Wellness,” while drs. minerva s. d. Olympia and erlinda B. Panggat discussed “nata and nata-Producing microor-ganisms from seaweed.”

the plenary session on the second day (may 19) was devoted to “Crop Biotechnology: sustain-ability and Climate,” with Prof. Peter J. davies lecturing.

davies is a Jefferson Science Fellow of the Office of agriculture and Biotech-nology of the us department of agriculture (usda).

the third session centered on biotech education and learning. Jenny Panopio served as game master for several biotech games and quizzes that were partici-pated by around 60 children from Gawad Kalinga (GK) communi-ties. a read-along session was

also held where the book “Popong eats His Rice,” authored by Chat Ocampo was read to and play-acted by the GK children.

the fourth session covered social issues and concerns, with dr. emelea Cao moderating.

dr. maria Corazon a. de ungria discussed “disaster Victim identi-fication at Ground Zero;” Dr. maria auxilia t. siringan spoke on “Biotechnology vs. Bioter-rorism;” and Dr. Martha Koukidou lectured on “Ridl technology for insect and disease Control.”

the fifth session centered on Pinoy GmOs, with dr. aldemita moderating.

dr. evelyn mae tecson mendoza talked at length about long shelf life papaya with ringspot virus resistance; Dr. Desiree Hautea explained why Bt eggplant is needed in the Philippines; and

dr. antonio alfonso lectured on Golden Rice as the best tool in battling Vitamin A deficiency.

abraham manalo moderated the sixth session, which covered environment and energy.

“Go Organic with Home Composting” was the subject of dr. Virginia Castillo Cuevas, while dr. lisa e. James focused on “Gm Crops and their Role in sustainable agriculture.”

engr. danilo P. manayaga lectured on “Renewable energy and Carbon sequestration with Philippine micro-algae,” and dr. arnold B. estrada and Jan alfred F. samson discussed “nutrient and Water use Efficiency and Biotech Crops.”

dr. aldemita closed the event with the reading of the convention resolution.

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“Adoption” is defined in the study as “how the farmers acquire and eventu-ally apply the knowledge and practices pertaining to the planting of biotech crops.”

“uptake pathway” is the

these points are among the findings of a communication study on the influences, knowledge seeking, and knowledge sharing dynamics of Filipino farmers in adopting biotech crops.

Co-published by the southeast asian Regional Center for Graduate study and Research in agricul-ture (seaRCa), the international service for the acquisition of agri-biotech applications (isaaa), and the College of develop-ment Communication (CdC) of the university of the Philippines los Baños (uPlB), the “adoption and uptake Pathways of Biotech-nology Crops: the Case of Biotech Corn Farmers in selected Provinces of luzon, Philippines” study, authored by dr. Cleofe torres, et al., focuses on how farmers came to adopt biotech corn, the process they go through when they acquire and apply the knowledge and practices in cultivating biotech corn, and the dynamics in their experience sharing, among others.

the study was conducted in Pangasinan, isabela, and Cagayan—three of the major corn producing provinces in the northern Philippines.

“process that captures how the information and knowledge about biotech crops are introduced to, or accessed, adopted, disseminated, and shared by the farmers to others.”

Higher income was found to be the major benefit that came from the adoption of biotech corn.

it consequently helped the farmers send their children to school, make farming activi-ties easier and simpler, pay their loans and debts, among others.

the farmers also noted that they have acquired “peace of mind” (assurance of harvest due to insect pest resistance) from biotech corn adoption.

“late adopters” were also explored in the study. late adopters were explained to have been brought about by lack of capital and, for some

Having fool-proof assurance of high yield and better

income, and the influence of fellow farmers and relatives who are already adopting the technol-ogy are among the major reasons that convinced corn farmers to planting the transgenic crops.

Lydia Lapastora of Isabela is among the key players in the uptake pathways of biotech crops in her community.

Higher income was found to be the major benefit that came from the adoption of biotech corn.

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farmers, hesitance. these late adopters

eventually switched to biotech corn upon seeing the high yield and income of the early adopters from nearby farms.

the dispersal of the technology was also mapped and analyzed through an exercise called the “innovation tree.”

the innovation tree is a method that helps in visualizing and analyzing the spread of an innovation or technology over time, and between and among community members.

these exercises formed the uptake pathways, which were constructed from two to four communi-ties in each of the three provinces.

the innovation tree exercise found that multiple actors were involved in the circula-tion of knowledge and informa-tion on biotech corn.

Farmers, who are also the early adopters of biotech corn, are among the key players in the uptake pathways.

some of the key farmers noted in the study are renowned biotech corn farmer and advocate Rosalie ellasus in san Jacinto, Pangas-inan, successful biotech corn farmer lydia lapastora in Benito

soliven, isabela, and farmers tony lucina and mary abella in solana, Cagayan.

technicians of seed companies were also main players in the adoption of biotech corn, identi-fied as the initiators of the uptake pathways. the technicians introduced the technology to the farmers through demonstra-tion farms and seminars.

the traders also play an important role because they endorsed the technology to the farmers and assured them that

they would provide the necessary capital for planting.

there were also “local ambassadors” who offer technical assistance, visit the farms, and testify to the benefits of biotech corn.

the study also noted that because of their positive experience, the farmers resolved to continue adopting other biotech crops such as the fruit and shoot borer resistant (FsBR) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, once these are commercialized.

the farmers were also keen to learn more about biotech crops, hence the need for more effective biotech education endeavors.

several recommenda-tions for various stakeholders were stated in the study.

extension workers and communication practitio-ners were advised to involve the seed suppliers and traders due to their initiating role in the uptake pathway.

seminars and workshops on biotech crops for the farmers were also recommended for them to have the “correct information”—farmers have expressed their desire to know more about biotech crops.

in the same way, the biotech

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corn seed suppliers and traders were encouraged to convey the message that “there is more to biotech crops than business,” as well as to link with the local government agricul-tural extension systems.

Working together with extension workers is also a recommendation for the seed suppliers—in such endeavors, they not only promote their product, but they also contribute to government efforts.

meanwhile, more govern-ment support and promotion of biotech crops is needed from the policy makers.

Despite the clear-cut benefits of biotech corn, department of agriculture (da) technicians were

not “openly promoting” the technology “for fear that

they might offend the current

da

leader-ship, which

is being perceived as openly advocating for organic farming.”

the “lukewarm attitude”, the study noted, actually stalls to a certain extent the spread or the uptake pathway of biotech corn among farmers.

seaRCa director dr. Gil C. saguiguit, Jr., isaaa Global Coordinator dr. Randy a. Hautea, and CdC dean and Project leader dr. Cleofe s. torres, wrote in the study’s foreword that after more than 15 years of global commer-

cial use, biotech crops have demonstrated the

immense benefits they can contribute in terms

of economic produc-tivity, environmental protection, and uplift-ment of the welfare of poor farmers in

many parts of the world.With appropriate biosafety

regulations in place, the Philippines started planting biotech crops in 2003.

the insect resistant Bt corn, the herbicide tolerant corn, and stacked corn, were reported in published studies and articles to significantly increase the yields and income of Filipino farmers, thus helping boost the corn industry of the country.

in its decade of propagation, hundreds of thousands of Filipino farmers have used the technology, and almost two million cumula-tive hectares of farms grown to biotech crops in the country have provided solid and clear evidence that the approved biotech crops benefit the farmers.

the “adoption and uptake Pathways of Biotechnology Crops: the Case of Biotech Corn Farmers in selected Provinces of luzon, Philippines” publica-tion may be downloaded from isaaa’s website, www.isaaa.org.

For more information about biotech crops in the Philippines, visit www.bic.searca.org or e-mail [email protected].

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tHe PHiliPPine hosting of the “9th asean Gm Food testing network meeting” back-to-back with the 4th eu-asia Regional network

meeting on GmO analysis and eu-asean isO 17025 accreditation training-Workshop has been a huge success.

The five-day event, held from may 21 to 25, 2012 was participated in by Brunei darrussalam, india, indonesia, Japan, south Korea, malaysia, Philippines, singapore, thailand and Vietnam and experts from the european Commission.

it was organized by the depart-ment of agriculture-Biotechnology Program implementation unit

concerns related to GmO labora-tory quality management, GmO analysis and Gm Food testing.

EU-ASEAN ISO 17025 Accredi-tation Training-Workshop

the isO 17025 accreditation training-Workshop was held at 88 spa and Hot spring Hotel and at the Post-entry quarantine station (Peqs) in los Banos, laguna.

the participants were welcomed by dr. Henry t. Carpiso, assistant director of BPi.

damien Plan of the eC-JRC gave the overview and mechanics of the workshop and also provided lecture on Good audit Practices

(da-BPiu) in collaboration with Bureau of Plant industry (BPi)and the european Commission-Joint Research Centre (eu-JRC).

supported by Croplife Philip-pines, Biotech Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) and interna-tional service for the acquisition of agri-biotech applications (isaaa), the event addressed issues and

Delegates to the 9th ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Testing Network Meeting

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(GaP) while manuela schulze and diana Charles discussed the quality system in a GmO laboratory and general concepts related to quality management and audit (isO 9001 and isO 17025 standards), respectively.

the 18 participants were divided into three groups (together with a “coach”) and provided a checklist that guided them to develop and identify specific questions relative to isO 17025 audit simulation.

the checklist included “General quality” questions (e.g. manage-ment Requirements, system Controls and Personnel) and “Specific Technical” questions (e.g. technical Require-ments, Validated methods).

through interactive discus-sions, the participants came up with the list of questions for the audit of GmO detection laboratory.

the audit simulation exercise was carried out at Peqs molecular Biology laboratory for Plant Pathogen and GmO detection.

each group (accompanied by its “coach”) ran an isO 17025 audit in “real conditions” inside the GmO lab and asked laboratory personnel questions in three different catego-ries of auditee: quality manager (qm-merle Palacpac), laboratory manager (lm-Geronima eusebio) and La Study captures influences and knowledge sharing and seeking dynamics on adoption of biotech crops in the Philippines.

the training exercise ended

with each group reporting its audit findings and giving recommendations to the auditee.

the workshop provided salient points in acquiring isO 17025 accreditation for GmO lab.

4th EU-Asia Regional Network Meeting on GMO Analysis

the 4th eu-asia network meeting on GmO analysis was formally opened by Joel s. Rudinas, undersecretary for Operations of the depart-ment of agriculture.

the event was held in edsa shangri-la Hotel on may 23. mr. damien Plan presented the update on eu-asia network Cooperation on Global networking on GmO analysis agreed during the 3rd eu-asia meeting in singapore.

the cooperation with eu-JRC provided participation of some asean member-states to the Proficiency Testing organized by the euRl, access on Gm testing information through intranet, distribution of plasmid control samples and a visit (study tour) to the euRl for Gm Food and Feed at ispra, italy.

On the other hand, the signing of the memorandum of understanding (mOu) between the GmF testing network and eu-JRC was also tackled.

the asean secretariat informed the network that based on the last sOm amaF meeting, there is no

decision yet on the mOu.updates on GmO regula-

tion and testing capabilities in india, Japan and south Korea were likewise presented.

extensive discussions among asean member-states, non-asean countries and eC experts to further strengthen the cooperation were undertaken. the meeting output was highlighted in the presenta-tion of Plan which he called the “manila Roadmap” 2012-2013 which covers the following:

1) eu-asia networking- On-line networking: Creation of eu-asia intranet for information sharing

2) method development/method Validation: Provide plasmid control samples to various asian GmO laborato-ries and organize workshop on quantitative GmO detection including topics on measurement uncertainty and unapproved GmOs

3) Proficiency Testing: Further develop participation from asian labs in euRl-GmFF round of proficiency testing and provide general information/guidelines on organization of proficiency testing;

4) technical training: Future echnical trainings for asian labs, including topics on quality management systems, and

5) Global matrix: Keeping asian partners informed about Global GmO matrix project development.

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EVENTS

9th ASEAN GM Food Testing Network Meeting

dr. Paul Chiew King tiong, director of the agri-food and Veterinary authority (aVa) laboratories department and the Coordinator of asean GmF testing network gave the opening remarks during the 9th asean Gm Food testing network meeting.

He highlighted considerable progress of the ongoing collabo-ration with the eu in supporting and facilitating initiatives like the following: a) sharing of a compen-dium and database of validated GmO detection methods to assist laboratories to perform GmO testing; establishment of the EU-ASEAN Intranet portal; EU Proficiency Testing Programme; b) distribution of plasmid control DNA samples, and; c) study tour.

sr. tiong also recognized the significant progress of coopera-tion under the network and that it remains a strategic platform to promote exchange of ideas, information and training on issues of GmO testing among asean member states (ams).

He likewise expressed his confidence that the GM food Testing network will continue to build upon the progress in previous years and strive to achieve greater heights in the face of ongoing and emerging challenges.

speaking on behalf of the host country, dr. Candida adalla, director, da- BPiu,

warmly welcomed all the participants to the meeting.

she also updated the meeting on the progress of initiatives being undertaken by the Philip-pines in facing the challenges in building its own capacity for Gm testing and in addressing issues on Gm technology.

she encouraged them to work together in addressing new issues and challenges in the field of Gm work and in improving Gm testing capabilities of all the asean member-states.

the progress in the implemen-tation of policy framework related to asean Coopera-tion in GmO Food testing was presented, followed by country reports by each member-state.

towards the end of the session, singapore (as the coordinating country of the asean GmF testing network) presented the progress report of the workplan on asean GmF testing network.

the progress report consists of the agreed areas of informa-tion to be shared among the members of the asean GmF testing network, as follows:

1) update the current status of GmOs regulatory systems and Gm testing capabilities and expertise in asean member Countries

2) Collate and publish a compendium of analyt-ical methods (validated and unvalidated), related expertise and Gm testing laboratories

providing services in asean3) establish guidelines for

methods validation and proficiency testing in accordance with internationally accepted perfor-mance criteria for validation

4) establish an informa-tion depository for reference materials for use as positive and negative samples in quality control and methods validation

5) establish a molecular registry of approved GmOs in asean which contains sufficient molecular detail for purposes of GmO testing in asean

6) Plan and organize training workshops and exchange programmes to address technical needs in asean

7) Publicize asean GmF net activities on asean secretariat’s Website, and

8) establishment of Regional training Centre for Geneti-cally Modified food Testing.

Other matters discussed during the meeting were the asean-eu technical Cooperation, Global GmO network Forum and Gm Food safety assessment.

the meeting likewise noted the invitation on the planned Global GmO network Forum (GGnF) from October 16 to 17 to be held in Brussels, Belgium.

Following the schedules made at the 8th asean GmF net meeting, the meeting agreed that the 10th meeting of the asean GmF net will be held in Cambodia in 2013, subject to the confirmation of Cambodia.

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two renowned univer-sities and the highest s&t policy advisory and recogni-tion body in the country recently expressed their position supporting continued research on the potentially valuable biotech eggplant.

NAST President and UPLB Chancellor defend research

Following a petition for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan and writ of continuing mandamus filed by an anti-GmO group against the multi-location field trials of Bt eggplant, the president of the national academy of science and technology (nast), dr. emil q. Javier, representing the scientific community in the Philippines, said that the Academy is confident that the supreme Court will not act rashly but rather consider the science behind the field trials.

the writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy the purpose of

which is to “protect the rights of persons whose constitu-tional right to a balanced and healthful ecology is violated, or threatened with violation that may involve an environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities of provinces.”

it may be availed of by an individual or a group, on behalf of the persons whose constitu-tional right to a balanced and healthful ecology is threatened or violated. the writ of continuing mandamus is another legal remedy “issued by a court in an environmental case directing any agency or instrumentality of the government or officer thereof to perform an act or series of acts decreed by final judgment which shall remain effective until judgment is fully satisfied.”

it is available for injured persons when any “agency or instrumentality of the government or officer thereof

unlawfully neglects the perfor-mance of an act…or unlawfully excludes another from the use or enjoyment of such right and there is no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.”

Javier said that the filing of the petition is not of national interest, and the academy, together with uP and the mainstream, reputable scientists from the local and global community strongly support agricultural biotechnology.

Contrary to the baseless allegations of the petitioners, Bt eggplant is potentially the best environment-friendly technology for eggplant production, Javier asserted.

during a press conference conducted by uPlB on may 15, 2012, Javier also pointed out that new technologies are very important in the competition among nations. He explained that a country that has the capacity on new technologies would always have a competitive advantage.

“that’s why if the supreme Court would not understand our scientists’ explanations, we are unnecessarily penalizing ourselves, our farmers, and our industries of the ability to use technology for our national purposes. that’s a high issue—why should we penalize

Stakeholders speak

FaRmeRs in the country can keep their hopes up as the fruit and shoot borer resistant (FsBR) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, a public

sector product being developed by the univer-sity of the Philippines los Baños (uPlB) is being backed by the scientific authorities in the country.

By Jenny A. Panopio and Sophia M. Mercado

27MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

TRENDS

ourselves (by) depriving farmers of the new technology based on unfounded fears?” he asked.

meanwhile, uPlB Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz also maintained the university’s support for the multi-location field trials of Bt eggplant.

In an official statement released last may 11, 2012, Chancellor Cruz, a renowned environmental scientist, said that with ecological balance and environmental safety as non-negotiable core values of the university in the conduct of research, anti-GmO organi-zations must be rest assured that the university is wholly committed in conducting responsible research on safe and beneficial technologies.

“While the university recognizes the right of opinion of others, the diversity of ideas and opinions which all modern democracies guarantee requires that the rights and freedoms, especially the academic freedom of a univer-sity like uPlB must be accorded the same respect and recogni-tion,” said Chancellor Cruz.

the Bt eggplant project is already in its 10th year of implementation in the university, and is a priority project of uPlB, in accord with its pro-people and pro-environment agenda.

Chancellor Cruz explained that the current field trials are being responsibly and safely undertaken together with scientific organizations and partner state universi-ties in compliance with the biosafety requirements and guidelines approved by national regulatory bodies such as the national Committee on Biosafety of the Philip-pines (nCBP) and the depart-ment of agriculture Bureau of Plant industry (da-BPi).

these guidelines include the da administrative Order no.

8 s-2002, which, the statement said, “are compliant to the global biosafety standards under the united nations Conven-tion on Biological diversity, specifically the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.”

“the objective of the project is to help advance the welfare of small farmers, the consumers, and the environment. there is absolutely no compelling reason to stop or delay the trials, especially at this time when the university is close to achieve the gains from substan-tial public investment in this project,” said Chancellor Cruz.

uPlB also has an ongoing case against the nGO Greenpeace, one of the main petitioners, and members of which trespassed and destroyed the legitimate Bt eggplant field trial for a photo opportunity February last year.

in the university statement, the illegal act resulted to “loss of valuable data”. “the university pursued this course of action to protect and safeguard the integrity of uPlB as a center of excellence and uphold its academic freedom and hold the perpetra-tors liable for their actions,” said the chancellor in the university’s official statement.

the provincial prosecutor of laguna has already signed a resolution to file malicious mischief against the Greenpeace perpetrators. the case is currently being heard at the municipal trial Court of Bay, laguna, where the perpetrators are free on bail while awaiting decision on trial.

under the administration of Chancellor Cruz, the univer-sity “remains committed to conduct unbiased field trials which are expected to generate empirical bases for establishing

Contrary to the baseless allegations

of the petitioners, Bt eggplant is potentially the

best environment-friendly technology for eggplant produc-tion, Javier asserted.

(From left ) Dr. Emil Q. Javier, UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz, BIOTECH-UPLB Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora and Bt eggplant project leader Dr. Desiree Hautea at a press conference organized by UPLB to express its position on the importance of continuing research on Bt eggplant.

28 B I O L I F E

the environmental, ecolog-ical and economic impacts of this technology. the univer-sity will continue to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology to achieve and sustain food security and a sustainable and safe environment.”

the chancellor also stressed the importance of strengthening the trans-disciplinary scientific approach to research and problem solving of the univer-sity, and called on other sectors to support the continuation of the Bt eggplant field tests.

uPlB has carved its niche in agriculture and biotech-nology research through the establishment of the institute of Plant Breeding (iPB), the institute that is carrying out the research on Bt eggplant, and the national institute of molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), the first biotech R&d institute in the country.

“uPlB is a public service university that must lead the way for and effect change in society. as such, uPlB has blazed the trail in research and development of products and technologies that would help improve the lives of the Filipino people. nowhere else is this more emphasized than in biotechnology,” said Chancellor Cruz.

USM starts Bt eggplant field trial, a university research milestone

last march 26, 2012, the university of southern mindanao (usm) in Kabacan, north Cotabato also reaffirmed its support on the conduct of a field trial in their premises during a collaborators’ meeting with the uPlB-Foundation, inc. and the international service for the acquisition of agri-biotech applications (isaaa).

the three institutions will once again be partners for the project

“development and Commer-cialization of Philippine Fruit and shoot Borer (FsB)-Resistant eggplants Containing maHyCO Bt eggplant event, ee-1: multi-location Field trials for Biosafety assessment, Variety accredita-tion and Fertilizer and Pesticide authority (FPa) Registration.”

USM stated that the field trial is part of the univer-sity’s mandate to conduct education, research, extension, and resource generation.

in a statement, usm President dr. Jesus antonio G. derije maintained the univer-sity’s firm compliance to the national biosafety guidelines in conducting the field trials.

the university insisted on the importance of conducting research and scientific inquiry on the potentially beneficial fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt eggplant through the multi-location field trials. The univer-sity asserted that it “accepts the challenge of conducting the field trial of Bt eggplant to avoid the big mistake of others in condemning agricultural biotech-nology on the basis of hearsay and baseless generalizations.”

“as an institution of higher learning, usm pursues, acquires, and assimilates knowledge that are based on facts. It verifies, validates and triangulates theories, principles and studies through the conduct of actual research and development activi-ties,” it said in a statement.

USM clarified that carrying out the field trials is about scientifi-cally ascertaining its merits and demerits while strictly complying with the biosafety standards of the da-BPi and the national Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines of the department of science and technology.

the research on Bt eggplant would also further validate statements by scientists about biotechnology, such as its

(From top) Agriculture scientist Dr. Emiliana Bernardo, Dr. Fernando Bernardo and retired army general Marcelo Blando who has now ventured into farming of Bt corn.

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29MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

safety and benefits to humans, its contribution to reduction in fuel use (because of less frequent herbicide or insecti-cide applications), and environ-mental protection due to reduction of pesticide use.

usm also stated that it recognizes the large potential of the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology in local agriculture, that it could increase yield, improve product quality, and reduce chemical pesticide use, thus enhancing the integrity of the environment and reducing health hazards to farmers and consumers.

the university reasoned that “there has been no incontro-vertible proof that genetically modified (GM) crops caused any disease or ruined any traditional crops. neither has there been any perilous consequence to man, nature, environment and land. Hence, there is no basis for trenchant criticisms.”

they also noted the importance of Gm crops in the country, citing the already commercialized biotech yellow corn which has shown durability and viability as a crucial ingredient for feed in the poultry and livestock industries.

a renowned institution in the area of research, usm is one of the state universities that agreed to conduct research on the multi-location field trials of Bt eggplant.

the Civil service Commis-sion, Pag-asa, Pantas, and the dOst scientist Conferment, are among the research awards received by the university.

Agriculture experts point out need for Bt eggplant

aside from the distinguished institutions, several agricul-ture experts also expressed the crucial need for an alternative technology to the excessive use of pesticides.

Member of Scientific and technical Review Panel (stRP)

of the department of agricul-ture dr. emiliana Bernardo said that current methods used by some eggplant growers in controlling the fruit and shoot borer are unaccept-able and unhealthy to farmers, consumers and the environment.

many farmers spray insecti-cides up to 80 times per season, or every other day, just to rid their farms of borers. studies conducted in major eggplant producing provinces found that almost all farmers use chemical insecticides; some even dip the yet-to-be-harvested eggplant fruits in a cocktail of chemicals just to ensure having market-able harvests and income.

Bernardo, who is also a member of the institutional Biosafety Committee of the university of the Philippines los Baños (uPlB) for the multi-location field trial of Bt eggplant in the university, posed the question “’Which is safer? the present practice or the alterna-tive, the Bt eggplant which is rigorously evaluated by experts? is bathing the unripe

eggplant fruits in chemicals, which would end up in dinner tables of people, safe?”

“the university is conducting research on Bt eggplant because we know that this has promising potentials and is considered safer than the current practice,” she said.

dr. Bernardo also emphasized that Bt eggplant proponents are not against the use of pesticides but are against their excessive and injudicious use, and would prefer a technology that is more benign and sustainable such as Bt eggplant so farmers can have an available option to choose.

“the insecticide exposure of our farmers and environ-ment is too much. the farmers, the consumers, the eggplant as food, and the environment—these are all affected by the chemical insecticides. We have to be practical,” she said.

On the concern of outcrossing Bt eggplant to other eggplant varieties, dr. Bernardo said “so what if they outcross? What is wrong with eggplant varieties gaining resistance against destructive pests? it would in fact be an advantage. if Bt eggplant is established as safe, through the field trials and proper compliance with the national regulatory framework, then let it proliferate.”

meanwhile, dr. Fernando Bernardo, a renowned educator and plant breeder who also serves as a member of the da stRP, belied the claim of anti-GmO groups that the biosafety regulatory system of the country is flawed and lax.

From his experience as an evaluator, dr. Bernardo showed how comprehensive and stringent the reviews and assessments are.

“they [the petitioners] have not seen how thick the papers i have to review. i said, ‘this is too much.’ But approvals should be science-based. GmOs should be

Many farmers spray insecticides up to 80 times per season, or

every other day, just to rid their farms of borers.

Studies conducted in major eggplant producing

provinces found that almost all farmers use chemical insecticides;

some even dip the yet-to-be-harvested eggplant fruits in a cocktail of

chemicals just to ensure having marketable

harvests and income.

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30 B I O L I F E

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science-based. But scientists have already proven that Bt is safe as a bacterium ever present in the soil; it is all around us,” he said.

“Our regulatory system is too strict. even those that no longer need to be done are still being implemented as required by govern-ment regulations,” said dr. Bernardo.

dr. Bernardo explained that in every stage of assess-ment, all available information is evaluated. the stRP would then ask for additional data if deemed necessary; information must be complete and thoroughly evaluated before an applica-tion moves to the next stage.

another group of agricul-ture experts—farmers—have also voiced their eagerness to adopt the pest-resistant eggplant.

Retired Brig. Gen. marcelo Blando from the town of sta. maria, Pangasinan said that the anti-Bt eggplant petitioners seem to have disregarded the

voice of the farmers. He pointed out that the petitioners were not farmers themselves, and that real farmers need agricul-tural technologies from which they would greatly benefit.

speaking from years of experience, Blando said that Bt eggplant would indeed be beneficial to farmers, especially as eggplant farming is quite a profitable business.

He said that when he tried to

plant eggplant himself, the yield was good at first, but market-able harvests were reduced to a mere 15 percent of the total harvest because of fruit and shoot borer infestations. He challenged the petitioners to see for themselves the plight of eggplant farmers.

Pangasinan is one of the major provinces planting biotech corn since it was commercialized in 2003. many farmers there have already realized the benefits of adopting biotech-nology as they have been gaining a lot from cultivation of biotech corn.

another farmer-leader from sta. maria, david Casimiro, said he would adopt Bt eggplant if the farmers would be given the choice. He noted that eggplant farmers have been relying heavily on pesticides, spraying almost every other day just to ensure higher income. Bt eggplant field trials must hence continue so that this safer alternative to pesticides would be made available to them.

Pangasinan is one of the major provinces planting biotech corn since it was commercialized in 2003. Many farmers there have

already realized the benefits of adopting biotech-

nology as they have been gaining a lot from cultiva-

tion of biotech corn.

Collaborators of the Bt eggplant field trial at the Univesity of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato transplanting Bt eggplant seedlings. Dr. Emma Sales, (right) IBC Chair for the USM field trials, maintains that the university has been complying with all the biosafety guidelines for a field trial.

31MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

FOCUS

aPaRt FROm sharing 50 percent of their genes, humans

and bananas need food to survive and need to evolve to strengthen themselves and survive in a dog-eat-dog world.

Prof. Peter davies of Cornell university, a Jefferson science Fellow of the us department of agriculture (usda), spoke recently in manila during the 10th anniver-sary of the Biotech-nology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) and argued that bananas and humans also evolved to battle predators and eventually, the crosses between different varieties led to the fruit’s being edible.

in much the same manner, human evolution in the past 7 million years led to the survival of the human species through cross breeding, the rise of the family, settled communities and the socialization of produc-tion to support larger societies.

davies argued that plant genetic engineering (Ge) is but the product of thousands of years of cross breeding, with rice being domesticated along with wheat, potato, corn and other food crops.

With the human population expected to rise to 9 billion in 38 years, davies stressed that plant biotechnology would have to contend with 27 percent of the

planet’s agricultural land being short of water and climate change intensifying due to the produc-tion of greenhouse gases (GHGs), 31 percent of which is contrib-uted by agriculture and fisheries.

under this situation, davies contended that biotech-nology offers the option for developing crops that thrive in arid and semi-arid regions to contribute more food for the bursting population.

under traditional breeding, davies said that large chunks of chromosomes containing the dna are moved, bringing in undesir-able traits like poor quality as well as desirable ones like resistance to diseases in one fell swoop.

With plant genetic engineering, he argued, the genes are moved in a more precise manner.

“the gene can be from a plant where crossing is difficult or

impossible, or from a completely different organism such as a

bacterium,” davies stressed.Genetic engineering uses only

desirable traits, like weeds that eat up as much as 90 percent of the nutrients and rob crops of the sustenance they need.

“This is more beneficial for the environment,” davies explained, “since the incorporation of disease- or insect-resistance decreases the use of toxic pesticides.”

another distinct advantage of biotech crops is that they have higher yields, which means less land is required to produce crops. moreover, less tillage is equivalent to less soil erosion and mitigates climate change in the long run.

in spite of continuing opposition from some quarters, davies cited the fact that in 2011 alone, 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries planted 160 million hectares of land to biotech crops, an increase of 8 percent or 12 million hectares over 2010.

taking global statistics as a meterstick, davies noted that biotech cotton has already reached an 82 percent adoption rate, 75 percent for soybean and 32 percent for corn, with canola at 26 percent.

in the Philippines biotech corn, which is resistant to borers, has had a 24.1 percent higher yield than traditional varieties, one of the highest rates in the world.

32 B I O L I F E32 B I O L I F E

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Probably movie actors, like Sylvester Stallone who, in 1982 starred in “First Blood,” the first installment of the Rambo saga, and 26 years later, in 2008, ap-peared in the fifth installment of the series but hardly seemed to have aged for someone already in his 60s.

Botox is a trade name, derived from Botulinum toxin, a protein and a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

The toxin that keeps Stallone and other celebrities from looking old was believed in the 19th century to have been developed from eating rotten sausages.

Botulus means sausage in Latin, hence the term "botulism," a life-threatening illness in humans and animals. Besides Hitler and his moustache, the US also feared that

germany had developed botuli-num for battlefield use in World War II.

Ophthalmologist Dr. alan Scott first used Botulinum toxins as a treatment for strabismus, or the lack of coordination of the eyes in the late 1960s.

Since then, it has been used therapeutically, to treat disorders ranging from heterotropia, a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other, to excessive sweating.

How does something that was allegedly planned to be used by a genocidal maniac as a weapon of mass destruction end up being used in medical and cosmetic procedures and in Stallone’s face?

Biotechnology, particularly genetic engineering, provides the answer.

“Itong poisonous, toxic na bacteria, kinuha ng scientists ang lason, nag-modify, nilinis para maging kapaki-pakinabang sa tao. Ang naging resulta, naging pam-pabanat siya. Gawa din ng siyensya yan. Nilinis mo, ina-identify mo ang specific na parte ng protein na ‘yun, alin ba dito ang masama, tatanggalin,” explained Oliver Paguia, sales and marketing manager of Lifeline Diagnos-tics and Supplies, exclusive Philippine distributor of the products of Biorad Laborato-ries, inc.

Biorad was founded in 1952 in Berkeley, California, when husband and wife David and alice Schwartz, both research scientists, determined that there was a lack of tools and services to make scientific research process more efficient.

“‘Yung Biorad, ‘yun ang prin-cipal namin. Ang Biorad, based in

BIOTECHTAMESBOTOX

By Ian Go

WHen yOU hear or read the word botox, what comes to your mind?

32 B I O L I F E

33MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

FOCUS

Hercules, California. May dalawang divisions ito. Clinical, ‘yung mga hospital-based laboratories. ‘Yung pasyente, for blood donors, before i-donate or i-transfuse ‘yung blood, i-screen muna. normal ito, baka mayroon kang Hiv or malaria…doon kami pumapasok. May mga tests ang Biorad sa blood-donor screening. ‘Yun ang malaking business namin,” Paguia said.

“i represent Lifeline, which was established in 2000. ‘Yung division ko, ‘yung team ko ngayon, is more on life science group. More on research. Wala ditong pasyenteng involved. it’s more on research, crops, animal science and then pwede ding medicine. Marami siyang application,” he continued.

Paguia added that the Philip-pine Rice Research institute (PhilRice) and the international Rice Research institute (iRRi) are among their clients.

“Sa Philrice, halimbawa, gu-magamit ng iba’t ibang equipment. ‘Yung thermal cycler, isa lang sa

tools na ginagamit nila sa experi-ments,” he said.

The 39-year-old Paguia, who earned his Medical Technology degree from the Far eastern University said their equipment can also be used in animal research.

“Halimbawa kalabaw, milk production. instead na one liter per day gusto mo 10 liters. Ilo-locate ‘yung specific gene sa katawan ng kalabaw na ‘yun, ‘yung responsible sa pagpo-produce ng gatas, imo-modify siya, para dumami ang milk,” he said.

“not limited to agriculture.

Food and nutrition Research insti-tute. Bumili sila sa amin. Gagamitin sa experiment for lifestyle-related dis-eases. Dati kasi ang diabetes, alam natin hereditary. Pero ngayon, kahit walang diabetes pareho ang parents mo pwede kang magkaroon kung medyo malakas kang kumain. Ito ang pinag-aaralan nila, ano bang gene ang responsible bakit may nagde-develop ng diabetes bigla. Pinag-aaralan nila yun, baka may magawa ang syensya,” Paguia said.

“Stem-cell. Halimbawa smoker ka, ‘yung baga mo, medyo tagilid na. ‘Yung cell kasi, di ba nanggagaling sa bone marrow? inside the bone marrow, ‘yung mga cell na ‘yan hindi mo alam kung saan mapupunta, magiging skin cell ba siya? Magiging cell ba siya sa buhok, sa mata, o kung saan man. Hindi mo pa alam. Pino-program siya, paglabas niya alam mo na kung saan pupunta. Pino-program ito outside your body. Pero ang application natin sa lungs. Pino-program nila, nagpapatubo sila ng cell para maging lungs…hindi ito literally isang buong baga natin, pero ‘yung portion na nasira kaya niyang i-repair,” he continued.

Lifeline’s top of the line products are also used in paternity testing and Human immunodefi-ciency virus (Hiv) testing.

“Noong mga 1980s, kapag nega-tive ng January 1, you need to go back sa lab after six months para magpa-retest. Kasi noong mga panahon na ‘yun, hindi pa ganoon ka-sensisitive ‘yung mga tests para ma-detect nang maaga, nang mabilis, ‘yung Hiv infection. Six months ang window period mo. nowadays, as early as, within 24 hours,” Paguia con-cluded.

Lifeline’s Oliver Paguia with the photo of his company’s thermal cyclers.

Botox is a trade name, derived from Botulinum toxin, a protein and a neu-rotoxin produced by the bacterium Clos-tridium botulinum.

34 B I O L I F E

-

Slow but sure

At that time, the first transfor-mation event approved was mOn 810 that confers to Bt corn resistance against corn borer.

Actually, the first GM crop that was approved was a Bt

corn. it was called Bt corn because the gene inserted

in the crop was sourced from a

soil bacterium, Bacillus

thurin-

gensis. even before the propaga-

tion approval of this Gm corn, there had been instances where anti-GmC groups staged rallies and even trespassed field trials of the Bt corn.

the approval of this transfor-mation event in corn even resulted to a hunger strike among those who are against the commercial planting of a genetically modified corn.

We can still vividly recall in 2003 how the hunger strike leaders sought audience with

the secretary of the da then, asking for a moratorium

and scrapping of the biosafety permit

for propaga-tion issued

to mOn 810.

the leader of the group looked pale and weak because, as he informed the secretary, he has not taken food for the last two days. during the meeting, the leader handed the appeal letter to the secretary and then immediately claimed that he felt very weak and wished to be excused as he would return to the hunger strike area.

Amidst the flashes and lights of cameras and videos, the leader and his members left the meeting room. to take advantage of the situation, the da secretary asked the government panel present during the meeting to discuss among themselves what actions were to be taken.

the two main issues of those who are against Gm technology are environ-mental and human safety.

those who are developing GmCs and opposing to such

look into these issues- health and environment.

Of course, no technology

developer wishes harm

even as those

By Vivencio Mamaril, PhD

ten yeaRs ago, the department of agriculture (da) issued administrative Order no. 8. this order paved way for the regula-tions of the propagation of genetically modified crops or GMCs.

VIEWPOINT

35MARCH 2012 - MAY 2012

-

VIEWPOINT

Dr. Mamaril is the Supervising Agriculturist of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

who are against GmCs also advocating the welfare of the people and the environment. But wait: there is another player in this field–the government.

Government takes the role of regulating the develop-ment and use of GmCs.

under the Philippine regula-tory system on GmCs, there are much compliance that a technology developer should address- laboratory trials and field trials. During these trials, the human, animal, and environ-ment safety are addressed.

Fast forward to present after 10 years.

Currently, there is an ongoing field trial of a Bt eggplant or popularly called Bt talong. the anti-Gm crops group went to supreme Court (sC) asking for the issuance of Writ ng Kalikasan.

the request for the writ wants a stop on the holding and or contin-uance of a field trial of a Bt talong. among others, those opposing the Bt talong opine that this Gm crop should also undergo environ-ment impact assessment (eia) under the department of natural Resources and environment (denR), that there is something wrong in the way the public consultation was done in the conduct of field trials, and there is a significant safety issue on the Bt gene that was used in the Bt talong.

We are stating these facts to show that developing GmCs is easier said than done. it usually takes five to 10 years to develop a new variety. developing a rice variety is even longer, 10 years or even more. this means that plant breeding is a slow but sure process considering that many

rice and corn varieties undergo variety performance trials if they are to be accred-ited under the existing seed laws and regulations of our country. if such varieties are to be genetically transformed through genetic engineering, additional biosafety are to be complied.

again, this makes the total process longer that ensures the safety of such product prior to its commercial release.

this year, after a decade of implementing the da’s adminis-trative Order no. 8, series of 2002, the Filipino scientists are facing another challenge- the writ of Kalikasan.

this matter slows the scientific undertakings that also delay a promising technology to the Filipino farmers.

needless to say, safety of the product should not be compro-mised and be the foremost priority. that is why it takes time before a Gm product sees its light in the market.

Going back to the Bt talong, it is a known fact that eggplant is the most widely cultivated and consumed vegetable in our country. that is why, the biolog-ical safety–human, animal, and environment of a Gm eggplant is being investigated thoroughly. let me just share this trivia, eggplant farmers use so much pesticides in controlling the number 1 enemy of

eggplant-fruit and shoot borer.

this insect’s damage can go as high as 50 percent loss in harvest. so, to ensure that damage is reduced, pesticide use is increased. some farming practices even go the extent of dipping eggplants in pesticides to make sure that the fruits are insect-free. Chemical pesticides also pose risks both to human and environment.

so, we are given a choice between two Bt eggplant–Binagong talong or Binabad na talong. Kidding aside, the slow but sure process of plant breeding and biosafety regula-tions intend to offer the public a better technology that benefits not only the consumers but also our environment.

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