We read in your July 30th issue a letter to the editor entitled "Why are they killing our environment? For Whom?" It is always an encouraging thought to learn that Filipinos increasingly take pride in the abundance of our natural resources. More encouraging is the thought that people have become increasingly aware and concerned that this natural wealth is fast depleting, is oftentimes abused, and hence, must be protected. It is not a matter of coincidence that the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) was founded, because of reasons such as this, and more. 

The UN estimates global population to balloon up to about nine billion by 2025. Philippine population on the other hand is expected to reach 100 million in 2020 from the current 82 million. To be able to feed this many people, food production must be increased. However, increasing arable land area planted to food crops means bringing down precious forestlands.

We believe that there is a more creative solution to this imminent dilemma. Biotechnology promises to increase food production by preventing pre and post-harvest losses. A local field trial of corn genetically modified to resist corn borers estimates a yield increase of as much as 40%.

Next-generation biotech crops have improved nutritional content, such as golden rice, which contains the Vitamin A precursor beta carotene. In the pipeline are rice varieties that can withstand diseases and crops that can tolerate unfavorably high salinity.

We also do not like harmful pesticides and other chemical inputs being used in current agricultural practice. Harmful chemicals go to soil and water ecosystems and eventually bioaccumulate in our food chain. But with biotech innovations, some crops are genetically improved to express resistance to destructive pests, keeping insecticide application to a minimum. In 2000 for example, insecticide use in the US was cut by 2.7 million pounds due to
insect protected cotton alone.

We welcome any means of chemicals-free farming, including organic farming. But due to the very high production cost of maintaining an organic farm, only a fraction of our countrymen can afford to go organic. Organic markets mainly target upscale locations such as Ayala-Alabang and Legazpi Village in Makati City because organic produce are way too expensive even for the middle-class Filipino. With biotechnology however, production costs are kept low while output is maximized. This means that with biotech crops, even the less-privileged can also experience healthier foods at low prices.

We in the Coalition - farmer organizations, food and feed industry associations, scientists, researchers, some members of the clergy, doctors, etc. - believe that biotechnology holds great promises that can be exploited for national development goals of achieving food security, improving health, and sustaining the environment. We advocate only for the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology that is responsive to the needs of our country.

It is always our pleasure to open lines of communication to people who want to learn more about the science behind modern biotechnology. To fellow BusinessWorld readers, you can get credible and factual information from scientists-educators through biotechcoalition@bcp.org.ph. They will be more than glad to share what knowledge they have acquired through years of scientific learning.

(Benigno D. Peczon, Ph.D, President, Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines)