A training-workshop on Biosafety Regulations and Risk Communication for Researchers and Collaborators of Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant (FSBR) Eggplant Project was successfully conducted on 14 – 16 September 2009 at Umali Auditorium, SEARCA, College, Laguna. This training-workshop was an initial activity on capacity building and technology acceptance initiatives of the FSBR eggplant (also known as Bt eggplant) project in the proposed 8 multilocation field trial sites namely, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Leyte, Davao City and North Cotobato.

Forty five participants comprised of scientists, researchers, technical collaborators and members of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) were provided with the new developments on the global and Philippine biotechnology R&D and adoption, highlights and status of the project, and updates on the guidelines and roles of the IBCs under the Philippine Biosafety Framework. Key information on the food and environmental safety concerns, risk assessment and risk management during the field trials, in relation to the product development of the Bt eggplant were also shared to the participants. Further, skills and strategies to better communicate technical research results and development to the general public were gained through the lectures and exercises on the theories and principles of risk communication.

The results of the ex-ante studies on socio-economic impact of the Bt eggplant and the emerging concerns on its commercialization in India were also shared to the participants for better appreciation of the economic and environmental benefits that can be derived from the adoption of the technology once approved for commercialization.

Bt eggplant is an insect resistant eggplant developed with the help of biotechnology. It has the Bt protein making it resistant to FSB pests. The development of the Bt eggplant variety is being undertaken by the Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines Los Baños through a licensing agreement provided by the Indian Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Limited (Mahyco). Mahyco, with the help of Monsanto Company, has developed a highly resistant biotech eggplant. These eggplant lines have been used as source of the Bt protection of biotech eggplants in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSP II), International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture through the Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA-BIC) co-organized the training-workshop. The Program for Biosafety Systems Southeast Asia Center (PBS SEAsia), the Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), the University of the Philippines Los Banos-Institute of Plant Breeding, Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also provided support to this activity.

(Jenny A. Panopio, SEARCA BIC).