Experts in biotechnology on Monday met to finalize economic cooperation efforts aimed at harnessing the potentials of modern biotechnology and its application in agriculture to ensure food security in the Asia Pacific region.

Host country Philippines pushed for economic cooperation among members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, citing the need to explore common grounds for developing biotechnology.

Agriculture officials from the Philippines who attended the 10th APEC Agricultural Technological Cooperation Working Group-Research, Development and Extension on Agricultural Biotechnology, said forging economic cooperation and "cost-sharing" in terms of technology development will help developing countries exploit to the fullest the potential of biotechnology.

"I am very hopeful that you will share your experiences and insights and we hope to gain from this sharing", said Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano in his keynote speech to kick off the event which is being held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

Director Alicia Ilaga, project overseer of the event, said the most viable option for resource-poor countries is to forge economic cooperation since agricultural biotechnology products require substantial investments, and the lack of it hampers the potential of biotechnology for poor countries like the Philippines.

"It is more practical for member-economies to cooperate in product and technology development because they can share the cost of investment," said Ilaga.

Serrano said the government is banking on the promise of biotechnology to help improve food supply in the country and that the Philippines is currently developing genetically-improved crops that can help reduce reliance on imported farm products.

The DA official disclosed that the development of a variety of virus-resistant papaya and papaya with delayed-ripening trait, pest-resistant soya, cotton, eggplant, and multivirus-resistant tomato is already in the pipeline.

Besides banking on biotechnology for food, Serrano said the Philippines is also looking at tapping its rich biodiversity to tap the fast-growing multibillion-dollar international medical and pharmaceutical market.

"The Philippines has 850 indigenous medicinal plant species, each with an active pharmaceutical ingredient which can be used to develop cures and remedies for a wide range of maladies," said Serrano.

The country is host to the 10th APEC-ATCWG-RDEAB workshop until November 12. The APEC-ATCWG was formed in October 1996 to serve as forum for member-economies to enhance the capacity of agriculture and related sectors.

Apec ministers have earlier recognized the important contribution that biotechnology can make in expanding agricultural production. They affirmed the importance of transparent, science-based approaches to the introduction and use of biotechnology products.

Last year's meeting was held in Chile, and was meant to harmonize biosafety policy of member-economies.

At least 15 countries participated this year, which aims to put into action biosafety regulations, technology transfer and commercialization of biotech products.

Kim Donghern, APEC ATCWG-RDEAB lead shepherd, in brief remarks thanked the Philippine government for hosting this year's workshop, which is a prelude to the APEC Ministerial Meeting scheduled next week.

He also lauded the effort of the Philippine government in promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology in agriculture, aptly making it this year's host of the event.

During his brief speech, Serrano said resource-poor countries like the Philippines have lots to gain. He said there are three important areas of biotechnology which the Philippine government is pursuing: food security, renewable energy-specifically biofuels, and natural ingredients.

Serrano said the Philippines hopes to gain from the workshop by sharing information and technology and country experiences with APEC member-economies in agricultural biotechnology.

The APEC Ministerial Meetings have recognized the important contribution of biotechnology in expanding agricultural production, and affirmed the importance of transparent, science-based approaches to the introduction and use of biotechnology products. (With J. Mayuga)