SINGAPORE / MANILA - The Philippines, the first Asian country to commercialize genetically modified corn, is now holding trials for biotech rice, but industry experts say approval for planting the food grain is at least two years away.

Before taking the plunge to produce genetically modified organisms (GMO) rice, the Southeast Asian nation - which imports about 1 million tonnes of the grain annually - is eyeing developments in China, which industry experts say could introduce biotech rice as early as this year.

"We are watching how consumers will react in China," Leo Sebastian, executive director of the government-funded Philippine Rice Research Institute, told Reuters.

"Rice, unlike corn, is a staple food crop. So consumers will have much more to say."

The opposition to GMO food crops across the globe is much stronger than for crops such as cotton and feed crops such as corn. Last year, U.S. biotech giant Monsanto Co. dropped plans to introduce the world's first GMO wheat.

"It may take at least two years to commercialise GMO rice in the Philippines. That's the fastest it can happen," Sebastian added.

Some industry experts added that planting of GMO rice on a large scale in the Philippines - which currently produces about 14.5 million tonnes of unhusked rice annually - may be at least four years away.

Philippine Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told Reuters there was still scope for the country to develop high-yielding seeds for rice through conventional ways, which could help to boost domestic output.

"There is no need for GMO rice yet," he said, adding the government would be cautious before introducing biotech rice.

Biotech corn
In 2002, the Philippine Agriculture Department's Bureau of Plant Industry approved Monsanto's application for limited commercialisation of Bt corn, an insect-resistant variety of corn also called the YieldGard Corn Borer.

Since then, the area under biotech corn has been increasing. Government officials say that biotech corn, largely used for animal feed, has been accepted by the domestic market.

But non-governmental, such as Greenpeace, have stepped up protests to the government's plan to push biotech crops, saying they threaten consumers' health and the environment.

"The Philippines is becoming the gateway for GMOs into Asia," said Von Hernandez, Greenpeace's campaign director for Southeast Asia.

"The policy of the government with regards to GMO is one of reckless abandon. This is slow-motion ecological suicide."

The Philippines held some field trials for GMO rice last year. Sebastian said the country would also hold multi-location trials this year of a genetically modified variety of rice, which is resistant to bacterial leaf blight disease.

"We will hold the trial during the wet season when this disease is prevalent," he said. The wet months in the Philippines fall between May and September. Leaves turn brown and dry from the tip down to the stem when this disease occurs.

Industry and Monsanto officials say the approval for biotech corn was given after results from local field trials demonstrated increased yields and a reduced need for insecticides.

Agriculture Secretary Yap said the government would conduct a study on the impact of long-term planting of biotech corn to ease the fears of environmental groups, but did not offer any details.

Corn output rose 17% to 5.41 million tonnes last year. The government expects it to rise to as much as 5.7 million this year.

"Commercial planting of Bt corn is part of the government's policy to achieve self-sufficiency on corn," Yap said.

Feed mills in the Philippines have been using domestically produced biotech corn and have not complained so far.

Ric Pinca, vice president at the Philippine Association of Feedmillers, said the use of high-yielding varieties, including Bt corn, had helped to boost output in the past two years.

He said he did not expect corn imports this year, while imports of wheat for animal feed are likely to be the same or lower than the 2004 level of 540,000 tonnes.