After beginning to commercialize the genetically modified (GM) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, pioneering biotechnology research firm Monsanto Philippines Inc. (MPI) is conducting testing of herbicide-resistant corn, another GM crop proven to significantly reduce labor cost in weed management and allow for healthy corn planting in countries as Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, and the United States.

Victor Alpuerto, MPI technology lead, said in an interview during the Agricultural Biotechnology Workshop that MPI began in September this year a multi-locational field testing of herbicide resistant corn in five locations after conducting greenhouse testing of the technology in Ilocos Norte last year. The locations are Claveria, Misamis Oriental; Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; Dangkagan, Bukidnon; Cauayan, Isabela; and Batac, Ilocos Norte.

"The NCBP (National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines) approved the testing last July. We began the late wet season planting in September," he said.

James Andrew of Andrew Farms Inc. told the same workshop that as a farmer planting herbicide tolerant soybean in Iowa since 1993, he has eliminated the use of 10 to 15 laborers removing weeds paid at $5 per hour (during the early 1990s before the technology was introduced). He said he expects Filipino farmers to benefit from herbicide-resistant crops.

Without the new gene found in herbicide-tolerant corn, corn plants die when sprayed with herbicide.

"When sprayed with herbicide, the weeds die and the corn plants die too. But with a new gene introduced in the herbicide-tolerant corn, the production of the aromatic amino acid is not inhibited, so healthy growth of the corn plant continues," said Alpuerto.

He said that with a herbicide-tolerant corn spraying of herbicide on corn plants are done only during the first 30 days of a corn plant when its growth competes critically with weeds. That saves on herbicide use of farmers.

"After 30 days, even if there are weeds, the corn crops is no longer affected by competition (in nutrients) with the weeds," he said.

Alpuerto said MPI aims to plant the herbicide-tolerant crop in another multi-locational testing, probably during the dry season in 2004. However, he said the company cannot predict schedules for the commercialization of the technology which, he said, is in hands of government regulatory bodies, although two successful multi-locational testing are usually enough for a commercialization of a GM crop according to existing laws.

Andrew said that he foresees Filipino farmers can easily pick up both the Bt corn and herbicide tolerant corn technology.

"I am very much impressed by Filipino farmers despite the smaller areas they cultivated. They are very progressive and are trying to implement the technology," he said.