NEW biotechnology products that could help farmers and fisher folks lower their production cost and increase yields were introduced Tuesday during the ongoing Fourth National Biotechnology Week.

Director Alicia Ilaga, who heads the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office, said the new technologies were developed with the objective of achieving agricultural modernization and guaranteeing food security.

Ilaga stressed the products or technologies, which were unveiled during an investors’ forum held at Tuesday at the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute for Small-Scale Industries (ISSI), are all ready for commercialization.

Among the products and technologies unveiled are: BIO-NOL, a stable inoculum that increases ethanol production from sugar¬cane, sweet sorghum and cassava developed by Dr. Priscilla Sanchez of the Biotech Implementation Program of the Agriculture department; Makapuno Embryo Culture Technology, a simpler, faster and low-cost production technology to make real maka¬puno developed by Efren Carba and Dr. Cristeta Cieto of the Philippine Coconut Authority-Albay Research Center; Biological Control of Brontispa (Bron¬tispa longissima) in Young Palms and New Plantations developed by Carba and Ambrosio Raul Alfiler also from the coconut agency’s Albay research center.

The other technologies ready for commercialization include: DNA Marker for Tungro Resistance Gene developed by Gabriel Romero of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice); New Rice Varieties Resistant to Bacterial Blight developed by Thelma Padolina, also of Phil¬Rice; and Processing of Sweet Pot¬ato Pickles developed by Julie Tan of PhilRootcrops.

A major marine product innovation is the Post-Harvest Techniques to Optimize Seaweeds Production developed by Dr. Marco Nemesio Montaño of the Marine Science Institute, which can be used by seaweed growers in Tawi-Tawi and other areas.

The other technologies unveiled during the ongoing Biotechnology Week include: Quick Diagnostic Tool to Detect Diseases in Shrimp and Marine Fish developed by Dr. Leobert de la Peña of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center; Bunchytop Virus Resistant Banana or Lakatan developed by Olivia Damasco, et. al., of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB); Virus Resistant Papaya developed by Simeona Siar, et. al., of the IPB; and Virus Resistant Abaca developed by Antonio Lalusin et al., also of the IPB.

Ilaga said Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, bared that he is working on a legislative proposal to grant incentives to investors willing to commercialise agricultural biotechnology products.

Under Angara’s proposal, private sector investors would be granted tax deductions if they engage in biotechnology research and development or promote truly Filipino biotechnology products.