Recognizing the benefits of biotechnology application in agriculture, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), in partnership with the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) and selected state universities and colleges (SUCs), is intensifying its biotechnology R&D program giving specific attention to traditional and modern biotechnology.

The biotechnology program focuses on integrated processing to increase the value and competitiveness of traditional crops intended for local and world markets. This includes the production of natural ingredients with the application of traditional and modern technology and the creation of clusters of natural ingredients industries.

With the Philippines being rich in biodiversity, it can exploit and create new products and medicine for the growing global market.

In a recent pronouncement of BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar, he noted how biotechnology application in agriculture is seen as an answer to issues in agricultural productivity and food security.

With such an initiative, BAR hopes to develop and promote the adoption of new production and postharvest technologies to increase productivity and profitability of selected agricultural commodities while minimizing the environmental impact of farming and fishery practices to effectively manage biodiversity, and help develop science-based policies.

The idea is to fast-track agricultural productivity that positively and directly increases farmers’ incomes, provides access to nutritious and safer food, and helps achieve a healthy environment.

Based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), BIOTECH has been promoting agricultural biotechnology that improves the productivity of the industry in turning out products that cost less and are safer for family consumption while at the same time, contributes to a healthy environment.

According to Dr. Ida F. Dalamacio of BIOTECH, speculative fear of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and biotechnology has prevented people from understanding the real potentials and benefits of biotechnology application in agriculture.

Dalamacio also clarified that there is more to agribiotechnology than the GMOs and expounded on how biotechnology can be applied to agriculture.

“Biotechnology is the application of any technique that uses living organisms, or a part of it, to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals or to develop substances for specific functions. If applied to agriculture, it simply means to use living organisms or part of it, to improve the productivity of crops, livestock and the fisheries,” she explained.