A visiting high-ranking Malaysian official has cited the Department of Agriculture for its role in propagating the safe use of modern biotechnology in crop propagation and food production.

Malay Islamic World Secretariat President and Chief Minister of Melaka Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, told Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano, "The Philippines has made a giant stride in ensuring food security. And it would be most acceptable if our two countries could share the technology so the growing Muslim and non-Muslim population will benefit from its potentials."

Mr. Serrano told the visiting dignitary and his delegation that the country has one of the most stringent bio-safety regulations in the world.

"Our modern biotech laboratories are equipped to help the country’s top scientists in their research and development programs to produce safe and healthy food products," he said.

Mr. Serrano also welcomed the idea of sharing the technology with Malaysia and the rest of the Muslim world as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation.

Filipino Muslims from the academe and various organizations have long been supporting the use of biotechnology in the production of halal (permissible) food. In Rabat, Morroco, Muslim scientists at the Islamic Academy of Science (IAS) have already been studying genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their potential contribution to the growing Muslim population which is reported to be at a staggering 1.8 billion worldwide.

The IAS issued "The Rabat Declaration of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for Development in the Islamic World," and noted that as long as GM products are of good quality and pose no risk to the person and the environment, the Muslims may use them.

The Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center also came out with ethical criteria regarding the use of biotechnological products like processed food.

The report said that ethical criteria for any food to be consumed by Muslims is known as halal, which means permissible based on the Shariah perspective. It underscored that food quality and safety are of outmost importance to those who profess the Islamic faith.

Agriculture officials who gave Mr. Mohd Ali a tour of the biotech laboratories at the National Seeds Quality Control Services in Quezon City, told him that Filipino scientists are also into transgenic propagation of ornamental plants and flowers.

At the Malaysian halal food products seminar and exhibition held at the Dusit Hotel and the Malaysian embassy in Makati City, Mr. Mohd Ali told participants that the Malaysian government’s position is to be the halal supplier of the world.

He said food companies from the Philippines and other ASEAN member countries are encouraged to be part of the growing demand for halal food which he said half would come from biotech-produced products.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei Darrusalam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Mr. Mohd Ali said the Malaysian government has embarked on several global strategies with the use of biotechnology. Among them are in the fields of cosmetics and ministerial drugs. He also said the Malaysian agricultural sector was entrusted to spearhead the drive to propagate modern world-class halal products and to contribute significantly in food security for the growing Muslim population.

Mr. Mohd Ali said a 54.4 hectare modern biotechnology complex in Melaka for the research and development of halal products is being constructed. -- Biotechnology Media & Advocacy Resource Center