GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are still seen by some in a bad light. Dr. Roel Suralta, center chief of the Department of Agriculture-Crop Biotechnology Center (DA-CBC) said that he wanted to change this.
Spearheading this campaign, DA-CBC partnered with UPLB through the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) and DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Los Baños to hold the first Regional Crop Biotechnology Symposium on March 9 at the Makiling Ballroom Hall in UPLB.
The event gathered a community of academics and farmer stakeholders to shed light on the challenges, potentials, and recent developments in crop biotechnology.
Conversations with the research community
In the morning, discussions were on traditional and modern concepts in biotechnology and recent research endeavors to an audience of researchers, faculty members, and students.
UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, in his welcome remarks, encouraged the audience to turn these discussions into actionable research and policy for the country’s agriculture.
Dr. Dennis Marvin O. Santiago, chair of the Program Management Committee in Agribiotechnology at the UPLB Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), discussed the potentials and applications of agricultural biotechnology.
He noted that it cuts across many fields and has made a mark on people’s lives – from the production of cheese, kimchi, or beer to more revolutionary improvements in agricultural crops.
The second speaker, Dr. Reynante L. Ordonio, a senior science research specialist at DA-CBC, talked about new breeding techniques.
He said that these refer to innovative methods different from conventional breeding, which they have been using for many years now. “Regardless of the technique, the main goal [is still] agricultural productivity,” he added.
Afterward, three researchers shared their research endeavors in coconut, mango, and eggplant, respectively.
Dr. Ma. Genaleen Q. Diaz, a faculty member at the UPLB Institute of Biological Sciences, presented “What might be in the meat? Understanding the transcriptomes of normal, makapuno, and lono endosperms.” Dr. Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, a faculty member at the UPLB Institute of Crop Science, tackled her team’s work on mango genomics. Mr. Mark S. Sagarbarria, a university researcher at IPB, detailed his experiences in “Starting your Gene Editing Journey in Plants: Experiences in Eggplant.”
Engaging farmer stakeholders
The afternoon lineup sought to introduce recent advancements in crop biotechnology to farmers, namely: Malusog Rice, Bio N Technology, and Bt Eggplant.
“Ang agrikultura ang haligi ng lipunan (Agriculture is the pillar of our society),” Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan, vice chancellor for research and extension, stated in his opening message. He expressed his excitement in sharing the results of the university and its collaborators’ research and hoped that the stakeholders could make good use of them.
Ronalyn T. Miranda, a researcher at DA-CBC, introduced the Malusog Rice or Golden Rice. She explained that it is not different from ordinary rice, except that it is rich in beta-carotene, which is an ideal source of vitamin A. The rice was developed to help alleviate vitamin A deficiency or VAD.
Julieta A. Anarna, a university researcher at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), explained Bio N Technology to the farmers. The Bio N biofertilizer helps farmers by aiding in improving plant growth and yield, while also saving on high production costs.
John Albert M. Caraan, project development officer at IPB, introduced the Bt eggplant. Bt eggplant has natural resistance to the eggplant fruit and shoot borer, the insect pest that widely damages eggplants.
With this advancement, farmers will spend less on pesticides and can look forward to better fruit quality, yield, and profits from their eggplant crops.
Dr. Suralta capped off the symposium by expressing his thanks to everyone. Through the symposium, he said that he hoped to have empowered the academic and farmer community. He also said that he looked forward to more developments in the field and that more research efforts would reach its end-users. “With biotechnology, everything seems possible,” he remarked.
The learning event is the first of three symposia organized to create an insightful and interactive venue for crop biotechnology experts and stakeholders. (Juvelle P. Villanueva)
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