Manila, The Philippines
August 10, 2005

Adding to the menu of agri-technology choices available to farmers, the Philippines’ Bureau of Plant Industry recently approved a new corn variety for planting.  So called “stacked-trait corn,” the plant bears two introduced genes in its genetic make-up.  The first one called Bt gene (cry1ab) comes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis.  This makes protein that enables the corn plant to resist the attacks of Asiatic corn borer, a dreaded insect pest that can cause as much as 80% yield reduction. 

The second one, the EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene, isolated from CP4 strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, is a naturally-occurring bacteria in the soils which enables the corn plant to continuously produce essential aromatic amino acids even in the presence of glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide.

Thus, glyphosate kills the weeds without harming the corn plant.  When conventional corn plants are sprayed with glyphosate, they stop producing the aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan which are essential to their survival.  The EPSPS enzyme can be found in all plants, bacteria and fungi.  Animals do not produce its own aromatic amino acids; thus, they need to obtain it from plants for survival.

EPSPS is normally present in foods made from plants and microbial sources.  This latest corn variety combines the traits of two earlier approved biotech corn varieties developed by Monsanto-the Roundup Ready corn and Bt corn.

In 2002, the Philippines approved Bt corn Mon 810.  This gene is incorporated into the different commercial local corn varieties of Monsanto Philippines and Pioneer Hi-bred Philippines.  Locally, the Monsanto Bt corn hybrids are known as Dekalb(DK) 818YG, DK9161YG, and DK9051YG.  On the other hand, the local Bt corn hybrid varieties of Pioneer Hi-bred Philippines are sold as 30Y84, 30Y50, 30Y80, 30Y73, and 30Y34.

In 2005, another Bt corn-event Bt 11 of Syngenta Philippines was approved for planting.  The biotech crop products of Syngenta Philippines are marketed under the Agrisure trade name.  For the approved Bt 11, its commercial variety is sold as NK 5447Bt.

Also in 2005, Corn NK 603 was approved for commercial use.  It introduced the EPSPS gene into the chromosome of the corn plant.  Designed as a weed control option, this corn type which is developed by Monsanto Phils. is known as RR corn or Roundup Ready Corn.  It is sold as DK818RRC2.

The approval of stacked-trait corn-Bt corn Mon810/NK 603 makes it the fourth event to be given the go signal by the Philippine government.  The commercial technology demonstration of the corn hybrid varieties bearing the dual traits will start in 2005 dry season planting.

Since commercial planting of Bt corn in 2003, the industry insiders estimate that an aggregate area of 70,000 hectares have been planted to insect-protected corn. 

With more choices of biotech corn in the market to suit specific farming systems, it is expected that there will be significant expansion of corn areas.  Records at the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show that volume of corn production has increased from 4.62 million metric tons in 2003 to 5.41 million metric tons in 2004.

However, adoption of these new biotech corn varieties will depend on affordability of seeds and favorable farm gate price of corn during harvest.  The focus of farm support by the Department of Agriculture toward strengthening post harvest facilities will surely boost confidence among progressive farmers to adopt new technologies that would help them improve farm productivity.

Disclaimer:  For the purpose of providing specific information, trade/brand names and manufacturers are mentioned.  This does not imply endorsement, guarantee or warranty.  Neither does it imply criticism of similar products not mentioned.

SEARCA BIC news release