The latest genetically engineered corn approved for commercialization in the Philippines in superior to other transgenic varieties on the market, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said.

The Mon810/NK or the "stacked-trait corn," developed by biotechnology firm Monsanto, bears two introduced genes to make it more resistant to insects and more tolerant of herbicides.

The BPI said the "stacked-trait corn" combines that traits of two genetically-engineered corn varieties earlier developed by Monsanto: Roundup Ready and Bt corn.

It has the Bacillus thuringiensis or the Bt gene which makes the corn more resilient against the Asiatic corn borer. Another generic infusion, EPSPS (-enolpyrruvylshikimate-3 phosphate synthase) maintains its capacity to produce essential aromatic amino acids despite the use of the herbicide glyphosate.

Glyphosate is usually sprayed on corn plants to kill off harmful weeds. In conventional corn plants, the amino acids essential to the plant's survival (tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan) are lost when glyphosate is sprayed.

Two companies - Monsanto Philippines and Pioneer Hi-bred Philippines - have been offering corn hybrids with the Bt Mon 810 gene since 2002. Locally, the Monsanto Bt corn hybrids are known as Dekalb (DK) 818YG, DK9161YG, and DK9051YG. Pioneer's corn hybrid varieties are sold as 30Y84, 30Y50, 30Y80, 30Y73, and 30Y34.

Another firm, Syngenta Philippines received government approval this year to plant the Bt 11 corn variety. Syngenta biotech crops are marketed under the name Agrisure.

The BPI said approval of the new biotech corn varieties will give farmers added options to increase their productivity.