As a one-time corn farmer who lost money to corn borers and other insect pests, I wish to answer the ten arguments against Bt corn listed in the PDI editorial of last May 20.

First. The pollen of Bt corn does not carry a "poison gene." The gene is from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil-borne bacterium that produces a pre-toxin. This pre-toxin is activated by the alkaline condition of the gut of the corn borer to produce a toxin fatal to the corn borer, but only to the corn borer. The pre-toxin is not activated in the human stomach which is acidic. Planting earlier or later than the BT corn farmer easily prevents cross-pollination. Even if cross-pollination occurs, the harvest can be sold to feed millers.

Second. A paper prepared by Dr. C. S. Prakash, Tuskagee University, and signed by 3,200 scientists worldwide, including 20 Nobel Laureates, supports the use of recombinant DNA as a potent tool for the achievement of a productive and sustainable agricultural system. Over 300 million North Americans have been eating Bt corn for years. No adverse health consequence has ever been reported.

Third. Bt corn is Monsanto's intellectual property, which is rightfully protected by a patent. Is there a corn farmer who can produce Bt corn? Besides, why should he do so, when Monsanto guarantees to buy all his Bt corn harvest at a price profitable to him?

Fourth. The decision to commercialize Bt corn was not rushed. Five years of research in the laboratory and the field back up the decision. The farmer's main problem is low productivity, not financing or infrastructure.

Fifth. Why should the farmers continue to use the old and ineffective defenses when there is now a much better and more effective defense in Bt corn?

Sixth. Refugia are an essential component of sustainable agriculture. How can refugia be bad for the Bt corn but good for sustainable agriculture?

Seventh. Development of resistance is almost a certainty. When that happens, science will surely come up with a solution.

Eighth. Finally, there is a grudging acceptance of the value of Bt corn, that it will protect the yield. Theoretical yield is not as important to the farmer as actual yield. Bt corn directly influences the actual yield. Bt corn directly influences the actual yield, which the farmer will actually harvest and actually sell for real income.

Ninth. Bt corn is an effective defense against the corn borer, the farmer's worst enemy. The other minor pests can be controlled conventionally.

Tenth. Of course, Bt corn is more expensive. But the farmer saves on pesticides, labor, and equipment. The bottom line is: the farmer makes more money by spending more on Bt corn seeds.

Next July, the European Community will lift its moratorium against Bt corn. Where does this place our local protesters?

There is no connection between Bt corn and antibiotic resistance. Dr. Maramba and her friends simply do not understand what Bt corn is all about.

The GMOs will reproduce, mutate and move within the environment belongs to cheap sci-fi movies of the 1950s. Corn cannot grow without human help, because corn has no dormancy period. This means corn needs the hand of man to put the seed in contact with the ground. Otherwise, the seed dies.

Here are the areas, in million acres, planted to biotech crop: US, 96.3; Argentina 33.3; Canada, 8.6; China, 5.2. Other countries that grow biotech crops are South Africa, India, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Honduras, Australia, Romania, Uruguay, Bulgaria, Colombia, and Germany. There has been no damage to the environment.

The Philippines has better join the parade before is it too late for our poor corn farmers.