Biotechnology’s Contributions to Increased Philippine Food Security

Crop Biotechnology in the Philippines –Potent Tool to Help Improve

Food Security

Randy A. Hautea, ISAAA November 15, 2011 Kathmandu, Nepal

Global hunger declining but still unacceptably high, FAO 2011

A Food Insecure World

Food Insecurity in the Philippines

Dimensions of Food Security

Food Availability Access Stability

Slide: Adapted from Tan Siang Hee, 2011

Utilization

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 17.7 b Kg less CO2 in 2009

Equal to removing 7.8 m cars for a year

Pesticide Reduction 393 m Kg (-8.7%) reduction since 2009

Economic Return $ 10.8 B net farmer income in 2009

$ 64.7 B net farmer income 1996-2009

Productivity 83.5 M MT Soy, 130.5 M MT Corn (2006-2010)

GLOBAL BENEFITS ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL

Sustainable, profitable and productive agriculture continues to be boosted by the contribution of biotech crops. G. Brooks, 13 April 2011 Slide: Tan Siang Hee, 2011)

Biotechnology: Priority Field for Country’s Development

• Agriculture

• Environment

• Alternative Energy

• Health and Health Products

Philippine Biotechnology Policy Initiatives/Support

• 1979- President Ferdinand Marcos. Creation of the National Institutes of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines Los Banos- Became the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

• 1990- President Corazon Aquino. Executive Order No. 430- Establishment of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines

• 1996- President Fidel Ramos. National Agricultural Biotechnology Program and Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act

Philippine Biotechnology Policy Initiatives/Support

• 2000- President Joseph Estrada. National Policy Statement of Support for Agricultural Biotechnology

• 2001- President Gloria Arroyo. National Policy on the Safe and Responsible Use of Biotechnology.

• 2006- President Gloria Arroyo. Executive Order No. 514- National Biosafety Framework

Biosafety Regulatory Framework

• The National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (October 15, 1990) - created thru Executive Order No. 430. NCBP formulates, reviews and amends national policy on biosafety and formulate guidelines on the conduct of activities on genetic engineering.

• Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8 (2002) - Basis for the commercial release of biotech crops.

• Executive Order 514 (March 17, 2006) - issued to further strengthen the NCBP and establish the National Biosafety Framework.

Strengthening National Capacity on Biotechnology

• Capacity building for regulatory and scientific bodies

• Extensive multi-media and multi-stakeholder outreach and communications – farming groups, national and local government agencies, policymakers, consumers, general public, media, scientific community, food industry, students, others

• Capacity building for communicating biotechnology – risk communication, information resource centers

• Network and coalition building

Philippine Crop Biotechnology

• 1st country in SEAsia to establish a regulatory system for GM/biotech crops

• The sole country in SEAsia currently commercializing GM/biotech crops

• The only Asian country allowing for propagation of biotech feed/food crop

• 1st country in SEAsia to be included in the top 15 biotech mega-countries

• National biosafety policy considered as model framework to other countries

GM/Biotech Events Approved in the Philippines (BPI, 2011)

• Single Trait for Propagation – Mon 810 - 2002/2007 – NK 603 – 2005/2010 – Bt 11 – 2005/2010 – GA 21 – 2009 – Mon 89034 – 2010

• Combined trait products for corn propagation – Mon 810 x NK 603 – 2005/2010 – Bt 11 x GA 21 – 2010 – Mon 89034 x NK603 - 2011

• For direct food, feed use and processing – >50 Approvals for crops such as alfalfa, corn, cotton, sugar beet, potato, soybean and

squash

Source: www.biotech.da.gov.ph

Biotech corn adoption in Philippine Island groups (2003-2010, BPI)

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Mindanao

Visayas

Luzon

Biotech corn adoption in the Philippines, by trait (2003-2010, BPI)

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Stacked

Ht

Bt

Corn Production in the Philippines 2000-2009

-

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

hect

ares

| m

etric

tons

-

0.500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

3.000

Yiel

d (to

ns p

er h

ecta

re)

Area (hectares)

Total Production (metric tons)

Yield (ton per hectare)

Biotech Corn Adoption

Source: BAS, DA, 2010; compiled by ISAAA

Realizing Benefits in Farmers’ Field

Estimated number of biotech corn farmers in the Philippines, 2006-2009. (James, 2006-2010)

100,000

125,000

175,000

250,000

270,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Lower production costs • 60 percent reduction in pesticide use (Yorobe and Quicoy, 2006) • Lower labor costs associated with weeding and spraying

Higher yields harvested • Projected to have a yield advantage of up to 41 percent over non-Bt corn

(Gonzales, 2002, as cited by Yorobe and Quicoy, 2006) • Bt corn has 34 percent more harvests than non-Bt (Yorobe and Quicoy, 2006)

Safer environment • No negative effect on insect population in Bt corn fields (Reyes, 2004) • Increase in the population of beneficial insects (i.e. beetles, spiders, ladybugs)

(Javier et al., 2004, as cited by James, 2009)

Crop Biotech Benefits to the Philippines

Additional profit/Income advantages per hectare from Bt maize adoption, based on various studies

Authors Additional profit/Income advantage

Gonzales, 2005, as cited by James, 2008

Dry season: Php 7,482 or $135 Wet season: Php 7,080 or $125

Yorobe and Quicoy, 2006

Php 10,132 or about $218

Gonzales, 2007 Income advantage during dry season: 20-48% Income advantage during wet season: 5-14%

Gonzales, 2009 Income advantage during dry season: 1-75% Income advantage during wet season: 3-75%

Crop Biotech Benefits to the Philippines

Farm level aggregate economic benefits of planting biotech maize

• US $ 108 Million (2003-2009) (Brooks and Barfoot, 2011)

Net National Impact of biotech maize on farm income

• US$ 35 Million (2009) (Brooks and Barfoot, 2011)

Crop Biotech Benefits to the Philippines

Most Advanced Public Sector Biotech R&D

Non-Bt Bt

Non-Bt Bt

Insect resistant eggplant- multi-location field trial Pro-vitamin A enriched

rice – confined field trial

Potential Impacts: >Increase yields >Reduce pesticide use and production cost >Increase farmers’ income >Positive impact to farmer’s health and environment

Most Advanced Public Sector Biotech R&D Virus resistant, delayed ripening papaya – contained trial

Virus resistant sweet potato – contained trial

Insect resistant cotton -contained trial

In Summary, Crop Biotech Benefits to the Philippines

• Economic Benefits – productivity, farm income, production efficiency

• Environmental Benefits – pesticide reduction, farm ecology

• Social Benefits – poverty alleviation, other social welfare benefits

• Trade in agricultural products – especially for key imports

Contributing to Increased Food Security