The genetically-modified organism (GMO) known as “golden rice” will not significantly address hunger or Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in the country, according to a government agency.

NAPC facilitated the dialogue among a regional coalition of farmers, consumers, environmental activists and other related government agencies from different countries in rejecting the impending commercialization of golden rice in the Philippines.

The groups opposed the use of genetic modification, which generally meant altering the natural gene pool, until there are enough studies that could disprove its risks to human safety and biodiversity.

DAVAO CITY — Major banana growers and exporters said they oppose a plan to conduct field-testing of genetically modified (GM) bananas in Mindanao, saying this will affect the marketability of the region’s produce.

Stephen A. Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA), said in an interview last week that such trials pose a danger to the country’s second-biggest agricultural export commodity as “it might send a wrong signal to the markets where we sell our bananas.”

Mr. Antig said those behind the plan to conduct the test should consult industry stakeholders.

“They must remember that any news will have a very huge impact on the industry,” he cautioned.

It was reported on a local television network in November that researchers from Australia are planning to carry out field trials for GM bananas that will address Fusarium wilt, also known as the Panama disease.

by Angelika Hilbeck and Hans Herren

The recent Nobel laureates’ letter accusing Greenpeace of a “crime against humanity” for opposing genetically modified (GMO) golden rice reveals a deep division not only between civil societies and some science circles but also within the science community – a division in the visions for our common future and which path to take for our joint development. A division we see growing and escalating. A strong indication of this division is that among the Nobel laureate signatories, there seems to be hardly anybody with a solid scientific track record in agriculture, food production, development, or the socio-ecological and political causes of poverty and hunger. Others with notable competence – at least in the economic and social domains of development, poverty, and hunger – are not among the signatories. Signs of escalation also include the emotional, accusing language in the letter and the ample use of scientifically unsubstantiated claims. What is missing in the letter and among the supporters and developers of GMOs is the recognition and scientific analysis of some tough facts.

Philippines GMO-Free Zones: Successful Roots in Organic Policy and Law

New laws could halt the genetically modified organism (GMO) agriculture in the Philippines. This in turn could cripple the adoption of GMO technology in the Southeast Asian region as a whole, especially since the country is ASEAN’s regional pioneer in the field.

A legal challenge to the Philippines' rules on genetically modified organisms is threatening to spark a food crisis in the country and could cloud the outlook for GM technology around Asia.

Today, consumers enjoy a wide range of food choices of both organic products and those resulting from biotechnology (GMO). In the final analysis, it is the consumers who make the final choices of the foods that they eat. Thus, the importance of providing the consumers with information on GMO as well as non-GMO foods (like organic foods that do not contain GMO).

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ordered a permanent ban on field trials of GM eggplant, and a temporary halt to approving applications “contained use, import, commercialization and propagation” of GMO crops and products.

MANILA - Field testing for genetically modified eggplant, also known as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) talong, has been permanently stopped by the Supreme Court (SC), while applications for the contained use, field testing, propagation, commercialization, and importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been temporarily halted.

On their last regular en banc session for the year on Tuesday, high court magistrates upheld the Court of Appeals (CA) in permanently stopping field trials for Bt talong.

The CA ruled that existing regulations by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are "insufficient to guarantee the safety of the environment and the health of the people."

Greenpeace and allied local organizations are calling for a stop to state-encouraged cultivation of genetically modified crops (GMOs), which is expected to gain further ground with the meeting of leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Along with the Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (Sibol), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag), Greenpeace expressed concern that the Philippines—which is hosting APEC meetings—is promoting GMOs in the region despite the opposition and legal challenges that this faces domestically.

Zelda Soriano, legal and political advisor of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said yesterday in a briefing the Department of Agriculture last month requested Apec delegates to show improvements in the implementation of GMO regulations in their economies.