Farmers from Mindanao, Philippines confirmed their position
to continue the multi-location trials of the fruit and shoot
borer resistant Bt eggplant during the 1st Mindanao Agri-biotech
Farmers' Conference last April 28, 2011 at the Grand Caprice,
Lim Ket Kai, Cagayan De Oro City.
The farmers'
resolution from the Isabela conference last October
5, 2010 was ratified by the farmers and other participants
present during the conference. Before the endorsement of
the resolution, experts presented topics on biotechnology
and its importance, particularly in agriculture in the Philippines.
Dr.
Antonio Laurena, Research Professor at the Institute
of Plant Breeding University of the Philippines Los Baños
(UPLB), presented the basics of biotechnology and biosafety
in the Philippines. The global status and benefits of agri-biotechnology
was discussed by Dr. Rhodora Aldemita of the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA). Dr. Jinky Lu, professor from the National
Institutes of Health, UP Manila, shared some significant
findings in her study on pesticide residues in eggplant
farms. The upcoming Bt eggplant in the country was introduced
and explained by Dr. Randy Hautea, SEAsia Center Director
of ISAAA.
Meanwhile, Isabela farmer Mr. Isidro Acosta shared the
benefits he reaped and his successes from planting biotech
corn. Mr. Acosta said that his yield and income significantly
increased when he started planting Bt corn. Also supporting
the adoption of biotechnology was Mr. Roger Navarro, who,
as president of the Philippine Maize Federation, pointed
out the importance of corn and the valuable contribution
of the biotech corn in the Philippines.
The conference was organized by the Asian Farmers' Regional
Network (ASFARNET), the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional
Field Unit X, DA
Biotechnology Program Office, Agricultural
Biotechnology Support Project II, ISAAA, and the Southeast
Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture - Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC).
(Jenny
A. Panopio and Sophia
M. Mercado)
