The Bureau of Plant Industry's (BPI) recent approval of the first-ever commercial propagation of a genetically modified (GM) crop in the country drew mixed reactions yesterday.

While farmers groups welcomed the government's move as a step towards increasing their productivity, environmental groups such as Greenpeace warned of possible environmental consequences of planting GM crops in the Philippines.

In a telephone interview with BusinessWorld, Philippine Maize Federation, Inc. (PMFI) president Rey Bioco said his group is satisfied with the way the government handled the application for the commercialization of bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn. Bukidnon-based PFMI is an association of corn stakeholders in the country. "We are quite satisfied with the efforts of government to expedite the approval of Bt corn commercialization. I think the review and consultation has taken up so much time, but we cannot avoid that. Overall, we are satisfied with the results," he said.

Mr. Bioco also said that even if local farmers expect Bt corn to cost as much as P3,000 to P4,000 per bag or 50% higher than regular seeds, they are willing to pay the premium given the promise of better productivity. "Compared to the crop being wiped out by pests, most of the farmers are willing to pay the cost," he said.

Bt corn is a corn variety developed through genetics modification to resist asiatic corn borers, a major cause of declining yield in local corn production. A GM crop or a transgenic crop is a plant that contains a gene or genes that has been artificially inserted to create a desired trait. GM crops, such as corn, wheat and canola, are widely used in the United States and China but will still have to be pioneered in the Philippines.

US-based multinational seed company Monsanto Co. is the first firm to apply for the commercialization of a GM crop in the country. But its field tests have drawn flak from environmentalists who said that genetically engineered corn variety may trigger environmental problems. 

In a statement released yesterday, Greenpeace said the government should have employed tighter regulations in allowing the commercialization of GM crops in the country. "RP approval of GM crop came at a time when tighter regulations are being discussed, decided upon and implemented elsewhere in the world," Greenpeace said in a statement.

The group noted the European Union reached an agreement last November 28 to adopt stricter policies on labeling food and feed ingredients derived from GM crops thus, the government should have deemed it "crucial" to regulate the release of GM products in the country.

On the other hand, a General Santos City-based farmers group refuted Greenpeace's claim. It said local corn farmers need the new technology to improve corn production, which has been continually damaged by pests.

"We have been waiting for government to approve the technology for a long time. Other countries have adopted it and we are toeing the line. Farmers are really attracted to Bt corn since field tests have shown that the produce is really clean compared with those that are infested with corn borers," said Edwin Paraluman of the Saranggani and General Santos federation of irrigators in a telephone interview. He said that with clean corn products, farmers can command a higher price for the crop.

Last week, BPI recommended the commercialization of bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn after US-based multinational seed company Monsanto Co. garnered the approval of the interagency Science and Technology Review Panel (STRP) under BPI. The STRP recommendation was the last roadblock to GM corn commercialization since Monsanto already passed the approval of other government agencies such as Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards, and Fertilizer Pesticide Authority.

In statement released last Friday, Monsanto said it expects Filipino farmers to start planting its Bt corn product, called YieldGard Corn Borer, over the next few months. It is expected to distribute the seeds through tie-ups with seed companies Dekalb, Pioneer Hi-bred and Isabela-based Cornworld Breeding System Corp. It is still to release the price of the new product.

In Davao City, a group opposed to Bt corn said it is going to campaign against GM crops directly to farmers and consumers. "The only thing remaining is for us to intensify our campaign by informing the farmers of the possible danger that Bt corn may bring to them, their farms and the consumers of their products," said Socorro Requiza of Konsumo Dabaw (KD), a group whose main advocacy is consumer protection. 

Ms. Requiza went to Davao del Sur yesterday to meet with farmers and other sectors to organize them into a consumer group. Disappointed over the BPI approval, Ms. Requiza said the group has been trying its best to block the commercialization of Bt corn.

But now that its propagation has been allowed by the government, the alternative is to organize farmers into a bloc that will refuse to plant Bt corn, she added. "After all, the farmers are the ones on the field.

They should know the risks that they will take if they plant this Bt corn," she added. Ms. Requiza said the group would also ask local government units to look at the possibility of enacting laws that will regulate the mass production of Bt corn.

Groups have been urging the National Government to stop Bt corn field tests, and the eventual commercialization of the corn variety, because of allegations that it is not safe for consumers and to the environment. 

Last year, groups opposing the propagation of Bt corn uprooted plants in the Monsanto field in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Ms. Requiza said KD would concentrate on organizing consumers and farmers into groups that will appeal before the government for the labeling of products that may contain GM crops.

And the Department of Trade and Industry must compel the manufacturers of these consumer products to label these products, she added. "They (product manufacturers) should label their products in order that the consumers will know what they are buying. They should shoulder the burden of informing the public about the contents of their products," she said.