Despite negative publicity over genetically modified organisms, the country's hectarage for biotech corn grew more than thrice to 54,668 hectares last year from only 12,000 hectares in 2003.

This prompted the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri- Biotech Applications (ISAAA) to declare the Philippines a "biotech mega-country" for reaching the 50,000-hectare threshold for biotech crop plantings.

The ISAAA is a nonprofit organization that aims to address hunger and poverty though the transfer of crop biotechnology applications to developing countries.

ISAAA officials said there are now around 81 million hectares in 18 countries planted to genetically modified cash crops like the white and yellow corn varieties, soybeans, canola and cotton.

"Most of the new Bt (bacillus thuringensis) corn farmers were from provinces that have a prevalent Asian corn borer problem, like Isabela in Cagayan Valley, Bulacan and Pampanga in Central Luzon and Bukidnon, General Santos City and South Cotabato in Mindanao," Randy Hautea, ISAAA director for the Southeast Asia Center, said during a media briefing yesterday. The ISAAA official added that this year's Bt corn hectarage, which currently comprises only 5% of the country's total yellow corn area, could potentially double with Syngenta expected to market its Bt11 corn variety anytime soon.

Monsanto Philippines, Inc. and Pioneer Hi-bred Philippines, Inc. sell corn seeds that contain a gene from Bt bacterium which allow the plant to produce its own insecticide against the corn borer.

"Farmers' testimonials of Bt corn's success, where previously they lost as much as 70% of their crops to corn borers, would help us create a momentum for its wider use," Mr. Hautea added.

ISAAA chairman Clive James, meanwhile, told reporters in a teleconference that 8.25 million farmers in 18 countries are now planting biotech crops.

Of this, developing countries account for 7.2 million hectares while industrial countries host 6.1 million hectares.

"Developing countries had bigger gains in biotech crop area than industrial countries... because of the significant economic, environmental, health and social benefits that biotech crops offer small farmers in developing countries," he said.

Mr. James also noted that five key developing countries - China, India, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa - are expected to have a significant impact on the future adoption and acceptance of biotech crops.

"Several developments, including continued growth in established biotech markets, the impending approval of biotech rice in China and continued progress in the European Union will open new opportunities and drive future growth," Mr. James said.