The Philippines
17 June, 2002

Bt corn proves to be relatively superior over non-Bt corn in terms of yield, costs, profit and nutritional food security.

This analysis was gleaned from a recently completed research by an international expert on agricultural economics, Dr Leonardo A Gonzales, entitled “Likely transcendental effects of Agri-Biotechnology: The case of Bt hybrid corn in the Philippines.”

Dr Gonzales presented highlights of his research during a symposium on Bt technology held recently at the SEARCA Auditorium, Los Baños (Laguna) that marked the celebration of UPLB College of Agriculture’s foundation.

Dr Gonzales is the chair and president of Sikap/Strive Foundation, which provides intensive socio-economic analyses of the corn production environment where multi-location field trials of Bt corn are conducted.

The multilocation field testing Bt corn’s effectiveness under local conditions were conducted in Isabela, Pangasinan, Bukidnon, and Camarines Sur. Controversy has surrounded the field tests, resulting into confrontations between those for and against the technology. A field test in South Cotabato was never completed when anti-Bt corn groups uprooted the crops in September last year.

The research, which was limited to the wet season planting of 2001, analyzed the likely transcendental effects of Bt corn. Transcendental effects are “probable socio-economic impacts affecting trade, aggravation of the prosperity gap between the rich and the poor, and disparity in income and wealth distribution within societies.”

Initial results demonstrated the potential of Bt corn as a viable option for farmers in the Philippines.

Among the other major findings are the following:

On the average, Bt corn yields were higher by 41 percent than non-Bt within the field trial sites. Likewise, in comparison to non-Bt corn in farmers' field, Bt corn had higher yields, averaging 60 percent. There was a cost advantage of 24 percent in favor of Bt corn. This means that it cost P2.81 ($0.056) per kilo to produce Bt corn within trial sites as compared to P3.71 ($0.074) per kilogram, for non-Bt. In farmers' fields, an average of 13 percent cost advantage of Bt corn in high yield group and
38.5% cost advantage of Bt corn in low yield groups were also observed. Bt corn also outperformed non-Bt in terms of profitability within the trial sites by 25 percent or 15 percent better than farmers belonging to high yield group, and 86 percent higher than farmers in low yield category. Profit gaps are extremely large between Bt and non-Bt corn. 

Results of the subsistence level carrying capacity were also in favor of Bt corn. This variable answers the question of whether net income from corn production can cover the minimum subsistence expenditure requirements of 2000 kilocalories per capita per day.  About 84 per cent of farmer respondents expressed their awareness and willingness to buy Bt corn seed once available in the market. The major reasons cited were high yields and less use of pesticides.

Dr. Gonzales recommended a continuing evaluation of the socio-economic effects of the dry season multi-location field trials.

For further information, email Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales at strive@lgn.csi.com.ph . 

Source:

Crop Biotech Net – Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
Los Baños, Laguna
www.isaaa.org

From the Los Baños-based SEAMEO SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center.