Thailand has lifted a three-year ban on planting genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by allowing the crops to grow in openfield trials with non-GMO plants, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday.

Thailand is set to join other Asian leaders in the modern agricultural biotechnology following the lifting of a three-year ban on the planting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in that country, a move which may place the Philippines in the "laggard" category.

This was expressed by respected Philippine scientist and Purdue University PhD., Dr. Benigno Peczon, who said the apparent lack of resolve by the local agriculture sector to address the issue of food security and sufficiency may be hampering the growth of the application of modern technologies in food production.

The Philippines made headway last December 2002 by being the first country in Asia to allow the propagation of GM corn, a biotechnologically processed food crop.

Peczon cited the "firm stand of the Thai government regarding the application of biotechnology in their food production sector." In a radio interview, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said, "If we (Thailand) don't start now, we will miss this scientific train and lose out in the world".

"We are technologically capable of developing GMOs," Shinawatra stressed.

The Shinawatra statement followed an order allowing GMO crops to be grown in open-field trials with non-GMO crops. The decision spelled a head-on collision with anti-GMO activists.

Peczon said the Philippines "cannot afford to ignore the growing support for biotechnology from various Asian governments." China, India and Indonesia have earlier supported the expansion of the use of modern agricultural biotechnology.

Peczon noted, however, that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has already pushed for the domestic propagation of corn varieties developed through the biotechnology process. The pest-resistant varieties have proven to be able to increase farm production and farmer revenues while decreasing the use of toxic chemical pesticides.