By Jade D. Miguel
LOS BANOS, Laguna, Oct. 21 (PNA) — Experts from various science and technology centers in the country have called for support on the commercialization of Bt Eggplant during the whole-day public dialogue held Tuesday at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
The event — attended by farmers coming from Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Camarines Sur — have introduced them to the benefits of planting Bt eggplant as an alternative crop which they may opt to produce upon the approval of its commercialization.
Speakers coming from various science and technology centers in the country have discussed about the food safety of this genetically modified (GM) crop as it is also known to be a fruit and shoot borer-resistant crop.
The fruit and shoot borer (FSP) is a pest which can be found in eggplant. It creates holes and larval feeding tunnels which damages the crop.
Meanwhile, SEARCA said it conducted public forums to gain support for the commercialization of the Bt Eggplant.
At present, one of the challenges being faced by the Bt eggplant is its legal issue with the Supreme Court which concerns the Writ of Kalikasan.
However, proponents for the commercialization of Bt eggplant reiterate that Bt crops like Bt corn in the Philippines have already been commercialized since 2003 and there has been no scientifically proven hazard to humans and animals as a result of feeding.
According to the studies presented during the dialogue, the nutritional components of Bt eggplant as compared to the ordinary one have no significant difference, thus considered as safe for human consumption.
As continued use of pesticides in plants have proven to cause harm to both animals and humans particularly to farmers who suffer from skin diseases brought by the use of chemical pesticides, one advantage of Bt eggplant as told by experts is its reduced use of chemicals on the FSB-resistant eggplant.
Should the Bt eggplant become commercialized, Dr. Emil Javier, an academician from the National Academy of Science and Tecnhology (NAST), said that farmers would have lesser expenses on pesticide sprays, and there would be a reduction of rejected produce in the market as Bt eggplants are less likely to acquire holes created by FSB.
Javier also ensures that this innovation generated by modern biotechnology are carefully and thoroughly studied by experts, keeping in mind of the effects it may bring to the environment.
Pertaining to the legal challenges the Bt eggplant is now facing in the Supreme Court, the academician asks the SC to “clarify its sentiments” on the particular issue.
“This technology has been thoroughly studied both by our local and international scientists and experts. We would not release anything to the public that would definitely damage our environment,” Javier said. (PNA)