Now that the Supreme Court has revised its 2015 decision stopping field tests of genetically modified (GM) crops, advocates of the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant are studying the commercial production of the country’s first genetically enhanced vegetable.
“We can now proceed with more research and bring the Bt talong to planned commercialization by filing an application for commercial propagation,” said Dr. Desiree M. Hautea, project leader of the FSBR/Bt Project under the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Institute of Plant Breeding.
The target is to have commercial production within a year’s time, said Ms. Hautea.
In an en banc ruling on July 26, the high court granted nine motions for reconsideration filed by various groups -- including the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, Inc., Environmental Management Bureau, Crop Life Philippines, and UP.
The Bt talong proponents have completed three of the four stages to establish biosafety for GM crops in the country, namely: contained trials in a research laboratory in 2007; single location trials in 2008; and multi-location trials at four sites in 2013.
Ms. Hautea pointed out that the fourth stage involves commercial cultivation.
The development of Bt talong, explained Ms. Hautea, is intended to address issues involving the fruit and shoot borer (FSB), which destroys eggplant at rates of up to 73% of the crop, forcing farmers to make extensive use of expensive and harmful pesticides.
The Bt eggplant carries a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural-occurring soil bacteria, which makes it resistant to the FSB.
“Bt has been used as a bio-pesticide to control insect in both organic and non-organic farms for years now and is considered safe as it is so specific it will allow friendly insects to do their work,” Ms. Hautea said.
Ms. Hautea said once produced commercially, Bt talong is expected to significantly improve the income of the farmers as it is high-yielding and reduces production costs.
