Biotechnology may be key to strengthening PHL food security

A policy forum on strengthening biotechnology research and development in the country was held last November 27 at the CHED Auditorium in Diliman, Quezon City. Hosted by the Department of Agricultures Biotechnology Program Office, speakers at the forum tackled policy issues and institutional challenges that the Philippines faces in pursuit of solutions for food security concerns.

According to Dr. Saturnina Halos, Director of Research at the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, the country lacks a critical mass of researchers. We only have 100 full-time equivalent researchers per 1 million of the the population, the lowest ratio among Asia Pacific countries.

One of the factors that may contribute to this lack of researchers is the fact that many researchers are simply on contract, prompting them to leave in search of better job conditions. And while many universities require research output from their faculty, faculty members need to look for their own funding.

Meanwhile Mariechel Navarro, Director of the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology at the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) emphasized that if we want to get the public to accept biotechnology, we need to change the way that the information gets to them via the media.

However, she also noted that there has been a shift in reporting to a more positive, evidence-based approach, with more quotes from scientists and experts and conversations between the writers and scientists.

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Biotechnology may be key to strengthening PHL food security