DOST affirms strong support for biotechnology

Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo has reaffirmed the government policy tapping the full potential of modern biotechnology in the country’s food production program.

According to Montejo, the government believes “in the potential of biotechnology to increase agricultural productivity.”

The DOST head made the statement at a recent conference on “The Adoption of Biotech Crops in the Developing World” organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, an advisory body of the department.

Montejo pointed out that the Philippines is the first country in the Asean region to put in place a strict regulatory system for evaluating biotech crops recommended for adoption and commercialization.

This was achieved through the creation of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines established in 1990.

In the same conference, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) presented the results of its research project on the adoption of biotech crops by small-scale farmers in China, India and the Philippines.

Searca said the three countries lead other countries in Asia in the adoption of biotech crops have been identified as frontrunners in the biotech crop arena in Asia.