Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology Products
assistance may have to be adjusted to provide an environment more conducive for the prospering
of the biotech industry. A new generation of highly innovative, forward-looking, enterprising
scientists and research managers will have to arise. Strong public-private sector partnerships
guided by clear IPR policy and other appropriate incentives should be encouraged and supported
to attract private sector investment in R&D and to commercialize technologies successfully.
Recent advances in ICT and global developments with respect to trade are realities which
the Philippine NARS should view as opportunities for new knowledge generation (such as functional
genomics) and application of modern biotechnology to develop high-quality marketable
products.
Present Initiatives
Government will have to consider its R&D leadership in areas where it has competitive
advantages and provide funds for technology acquisition (through licensing) to fast-track technology
adoption, as it did in the case of Bt corn, for which the technology is already available
for commercialization, or for PRSV papaya, for which the gene construct is available for developing
a transgenic using local varieties. The current database on the performance of Bt corn will
have to be enhanced by 2007 to include other corn transgenics in the pipeline for a more informed
policy-related decision-making process.
Since agricultural extension has already been devolved to local government units, an
aggressive education and communication program on biotechnology for local government units
will have to be developed, supported, and sustained. The formation of bio-industry clusters and
e-business should be led by the private sector, jointly supported by the government and the
private sector, capitalizing on the strength and experience of academia, research institutions, and
development-oriented NGOs.
Future Prospects
The future of the agricultural biotechnology industry appears bright. The Philippines must
strategize by focusing on products where it has a competitive advantage and expanding its world
market share of competitive products through downstream processing, related-services provision,
and overseas company joint ventures.
The role of the government must be to provide policies conducive to the growth of the
biotech industry, setting direction and providing basic infrastructure; that of academia lies in
basic and strategic research and education; the private sector must be concerned with applied
R&D and commercialization; farmers must engaged in primary production and primary processing;
and the development-oriented NGOs must concentrate on farmer retooling and organizing
so that the latter can be globally competitive producers and traders. In the Asia–Pacific area,
regional partners/countries will be active in sharing experiences, adopting good agricultural
practices, and strategically planning as a regional bloc how to compete for international trade,
thereby aiding economically weaker member countries and strengthening further the roles of all
member countries.
REFERENCES
ABSP II and IPB (personal communication). 2005.
Batiquin J., Cruz E. Measuring acceptability of genetically modified corn. Paper presented at the
National PAEDA Convention, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Department of
Agriculture, Diliman, Quezon City, 12–13 October 2004.
Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center. BFAD, BPI execs tackle GMO
food labeling, say safety, health rules are followed. 2005.
Estabillo A. No need to label genetically modified products? MindaNews 2005.
Colmo E. RP biotech performance hailed by Pinoy savants. Manila Bulletin 2005.
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