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Bt Eggplant

Communication

Strategies Shared in

Asian Workshops

Eight farmers from different provinces of Indonesia visited the

Philippines to learn about biotech crop adoption experiencesand regulation in the Philippines during the Farmer to Farmer

Workshop: Agricultural Biotechnology Outreach and Capacity

Building at New World Hotel, Makati City on September 19-23,

2011.

Scientists, regulators, biotech corn farmers and other biotech

stakeholders in the country served as resource persons and shared

lessons and experiences with the farmers. Workshop topics included the

basic principles of modern biotechnology, its documented benets, food

safety, biosafety regulation, and socio-economics of biotech crops. The

upcoming public sector biotech crops in the Philippines Bt eggplant,

delayed ripening virus resistant papaya, and Golden Rice were also

introduced to the farmers by Dr. Randy Hautea (International Service for

the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications), Dr. Evelyn Mae Mendoza

(Institute of Plant Breeding-University of the Philippines Los Baos), andDr. Antonio Alfonso (Philippine Rice Research Institute), respectively.

The farmer participants also visited a seed processing plant and

biotech corn farms in Pangasinan and Pampanga, as well as the

laboratories and eld trials at the International Rice Research Institute in

Los Baos, Laguna.

The farmers appreciated the lessons learned from the workshop

and asserted their support of biotechnology. They also expressed that

they would endorse biotechnology for agriculture to the Indonesian

government.

The workshop was co-organized by ISAAA, Southeast Asian

Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture -

Biotechnology Information Center, and the United States Department of

Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service. (JAPanopio and SMMercado)

Communication and outreach initiatives for Bt

eggplant project and the experiences on attitudes

to plant biotechnology were shared by Ms. Jenny

Panopio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center

for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture

Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC)

during the Asia Regional Workshops on Biotech

Communications held in Jakarta, Indonesia on Octobe

24-25, and Hanoi, Vietnam on October 27-28.

Attended by key decision makers (policy makers,

scientists, and government ofcials) from Indonesia

and Vietnam, the workshops aimed to develop effectivspokespeople who can explain the benets of plant

biotech and respond to concerns about the technology

local stakeholders. These learning events also targete

to create an enabling environment in the region that w

promote understanding and appreciation of agricultura

biotechnology.

Dr. Mariechel Navarro, Manager of the Global

Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of the

International Service of the Acquisition of Agri-biotech

Applications (ISAAA), also shared public attitudes to

plant biotechnology as well as the communication

experiences and initiatives for Bt corn in the Philippine

Indonesian Farmers

Join Farmer-to-Farmer

Workshop on Biotech

Crop Adoption

Communication experts discuss strategies to enhance

media interaction.

(Continued on page 2)

Indonesian farmers visit biotech corn commercial elds.

Vol VII No 2

July December 2011

Newsletter

A B S PIIAgriclral Bicnlgy Sppr Prjc II

Sas Asia

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7th

Asian Crop Science AssociationConference Heldin Indonesia

ABSPII Co-organizes Workshop on Biotech and

Climate Change for Media Stakeholders

The 7th Conference of the Asian Crop Science Association (ACSA)

was conducted last September 27-30, 2011 at the Research Centre

for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Bogor, Agricultural University

Indonesia. The Conference is conducted every three years and aims to

facilitate communication among researchers on crop science. This years

theme was Improving Food, Energy and Environment with Better Crops.

More than 200 participants from different countries in Asia as well

from the US attended the Conference. The event included lectures on

food security from Dr. Paul Teng of the National Institute of Education,

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Dr. Randy Hautea of the

International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Poster and oral presentations from some of the participants were also held.

The event is in accordance with the kick off meeting and workshop

of the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences

Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) Research Project on Rice Innovation for

Science Society of Japan, Japan Society of Breeding and Japan Society of

Performance for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Wetlands. It was

also in line with the 48th Anniversary of Bogor Agricultural University.

The Conference was supported by Bogor Agricultural University, the

Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI),

Indonesian Consortium of Biotechnology (KBI), ISAAA, ABSP II, PBPI, and

JIRCAS. (DSuryani)

three-day regional workshop on the role of biotechnology in a

changing climate was conducted for 27 media practitioners from

Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines,

Korea and Pakistan last July 20-22, 2011 in Jakarta and Bogor,

Indonesia.

In the Status, Impacts and Future Prospects of Agri-

biotechnology in a Changing Climate: A Regional Workshop for MediaPractitioners, participants learned about the different aspects and

updates on food security as well as the role of biotechnology from Dr.

Paul Teng, Dean of the Ofce of Graduate Studies and Professional

Learning at the National Institute of Education, Singapore, and Dr.

Randy Hautea, Director of the International Service for the Acquisition

of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Dr. Frank A. Shotkoski, Director of ABSP II, presented the

upcoming public sector biotech crops and said that these products

are being developed based on demand and solid socio-economic

impact assessments. Bt eggplant being developed in the Philippines,

Bangladesh, and India, he said, is among the most advanced public

sector biotech crops in the pipeline.

The importance of biotech communication was emphasized

in the workshop. Biotech communication from a scientists point

of view was discussed by Dr. Desiree Hautea, ABSP II SoutheastAsia Regional Coordinator and Bt eggplant project leader in the

Philippines. Science communicators who also served as resource

persons include Dr. Mariechel Navarro, Manager of the Global

Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of ISAAA, and Ms. Lyn

Resurreccion, Science Editor of the Philippine daily newspaper,

Business Mirror.

The workshop included a study visit to the laboratory facilities

and screen house of the Indonesian Center for Agricultural

Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development

(ICABIOGRAD) in Bogor wherein the participants were briefed about

Dr. Diani Damayanti of ICABIOGRAD (left) shows the target pest of Bt

corn to media participants during their study visit to the Center in Bogor,

Indonesia.

the research activities of the Center. They also saw the screen

house trial of the insect resistant Bt corn and the equipment and

facilities used for tissue culture, transformation and DNA isolation,

among others.

The workshop was co-organized by ABSP II, the Southeast

Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in

Agriculture (SEARCA), SEAMEO Southeast Asian Regional Centre

for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), and ISAAA, with support from Crop

Life Asia. (JAPanopio and SMMercado)

Other resource speakers in the workshop were

Dr. Martina Newell-McGloughlin of the University of

California Systemwide Biotechnology Research and

Education Program, Dr. C.S. Prakash of Tuskegee

University, Angela Dansby of Inkovation, Inc. in the

USA, Ms. Jill Kuehnert of Seed Stories, and Ms. Lyn

Resurreccion ofBusiness Mirrorin the Philippines.

Topics in the workshop also included an overview

of plant biotechnology, proactive and reactive plantbiotech communications, communication strategies

and tactics, and pro and con communication case

studies for Bt eggplant, Bt corn and Golden Rice

biotech projects.

The workshop was organized by Crop Life Asia,

the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology

and Genetic Resources Research and Development

(ICABIOGRAD), and Vietnams Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environment. (JAPanopio andSMMercado)

Bt Eggplant CommunicationStrategies Shared in Asian

Workshops(From page 1)

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Seminars on Biotech Potato Breeding

Conducted in Indonesia

More than a 150 farmers and agricultural workers from

four areas in Indonesia (Wonosobo in Central Java,

Medan in North Sumatera, Malang in East Java, and

Bali) were briefed about the biotech potato and its breeding

during seminars conducted in their regions. The seminars

aimed to enhance the knowledge of stakeholders especially

Vol VII, No 2 3

Dr. Desiree M. Hautea, project leader of the Bt eggplant project

of the University of the Philippines Los Baos and ABSP II

Southeast Asia Regional Coordinator, and Dr. Lourdes D.

Taylo, project entomologist, visited the research laboratory of aknown expert in the development of insect resistant management

(IRM) plans for Bt crops, Dr. Anthony M. Shelton, at Cornell

University, Ithaca, New York on August 31, 2011.

Dr. Sheltons research focuses on insect resistant crops. His

group is also involved in the determination of the potential risks

of GM crops on the growth and survival of nontarget arthropods.

Candidate benecial insects under study include predators that

feed on lepidopterous pests of Bt crops. The availability of efcient

protocol for mass rearing predators is very crucial in their study

and in the selection of predators for evaluation.

To share their understanding of the US Department of

Agricultures policy on high dose strategy for Bt crops, telephone

discussions were facilitated by Dr. Shelton for Dr. Hautea and

other IRM experts in the industry. Dr. Shelton also showed the setups for the mass rearing of different lepidopterous insects such

as fall armyworm, diamondback moth and European cornborer.

He also imparted valuable suggestions on data presentation

of completed entomological studies for publication in scientic

refereed journals. (LDTaylo)

Bt Eggplant Project Leader and Expert Visit IRM

Laboratory at Cornell University

government ofcials and farmers on the application of

biotechnology in potato crop breeding.

Among the speakers in the seminars were Dr. Muhammad

Herman, Drs. Edy Listanto, and Dinar Ambarwati of the

Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic

Resources Research and Development (ICABIOGRAD). Their

topics focused on biotechnology products and regulations in

Indonesia as well as biotechnology applications in potato trait

improvement. Mr. Kusmana of the Indonesian Vegetables

Research Institute (IVRI) shared information on potato variety

improvement through conventional breeding.

The heads of agricultural bureaus of these four areas

expressed their support and enthusiasm for the introduction

of late blight disease-resistant biotech potatoes because of its

potential to increase crop yield.

The event was jointly organized by the Indonesian

Biotechnology Information Center and Agricultural

Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSP II), with support

from SEAMEO Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical

Biology (BIOTROP), Cornell University, and the International

Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications

(ISAAA). (DSuryani)

Dr. Anthony M. Shelton at work in the eld. (Photo from http://web.

entomology.cornell.edu/shelton/links.html)

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Bt Eggplant & PRSV Resistant Papaya

Featured in Biotech Cartoon Contest

The fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt

eggplant and the papaya ringspot virus

(PRSV) resistant papaya were

humanized and depicted as superior or

super hero biotech crops, ghting off

pests and virus diseases in the nationwide

editorial cartoon contest BiotechTOONS: AContest for Cartoonists on Biotechnology with

the theme The Benets and Potentials of Crop

Biotechnology. The contest was organized by

ISAAA, SEARCA-BIC and the International

Philippine Cartoons, Comics, and Animation Inc

(PICCA).

The editorial cartoons also showed the

crops as giving benets to farmers, consumers,

economy and the world as a whole. The

participating cartoonists conveyed biotech

crops as technologies that could address global

issues such as food security, sustainable

agriculture and climate change effects.

BiotechTOONS sought to capture the

perspectives of cartoonists on cropbiotechnology. The contest was divided into the

professional and amateur categories.

Third place winner for the amateur

category, Merry Joyce Bautista from

Polytechnic University of the Philippines,

conveyed farmers choice in her editorial

cartoon which shows a farmer controlling a

robot Bt eggplant and chasing away the insect

borer.

The other winning entries for both

categories showed also Bt eggplant and PRSV resistant papaya as prot-increasing, poverty-

alleviating crops, beneting consumers and farmers.

Other biotech crops such as Bt corn, Bt cotton and Golden rice were also depicted as highly

benecial crops in the entries for BiotechTOONS. (JAPanopio and SMMercado)

SoutheaSt aSIa offIce

D. Dsi m. hRegional Coordinator

Institute of Plant Breeding

University of the Philippines Los Ba

College 4031 Laguna Philippines

Telefax: +63 49 5365140

uS offIce

Innin Pgs

213 Rice Hall, Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York 14853 USA

Tel.: +1 607 2556357

Fax: +1 607 2558186

Email: absp2@cornell.edu

ABSPII is a USAID-funded consortium

of public and private sector institution

that supports scientists, regulators,

and the general public in developing

countries to make informed decisions

about agricultural biotechnology.

Where demand exists, ABSPII

focuses on the safe and effective

development and commercialization bio-engineered crops as a compleme

to traditional and organic agricultural

approaches. The project helps boost

food security, economic growth,

nutrition, and environmental quality in

East and West Africa, Indonesia, Indi

Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Additional information about ABSPII

projects can be found at http://www.

absp2.cornell.edu/

This newsletter is also available at

http://www.isaaa.org/Programs/

supportprojects/abspii/

Vol VII No 2

July - December 2011

Editorial Team

Randy A. Hautea

Desiree M. Hautea

Mariechel J. Navarro

Jenny A. Panopio

Writers/Contributors

Jenny A. Panopio

Sophia M. Mercado

Dewi Suryani

Lourdes D. Taylo

Design and Layout

Clement Dionglay

SoutheASt ASIA

Newsletter

A B S PII

The celebration of the 7th Philippine

National Biotechnology Week

last November 21-26 included

the showcasing of Bt eggplant

technology through information

materials and exhibits set up by the

Bt eggplant communication team at

the Department of Environment andNatural Resources (DENR), Diliman,

Quezon City. Information materials on

the development, safety, and status

of Bt eggplant in the Philippines

were distributed to students, farmers

government constituents, and other

stakeholders who attended the

activities in the week-long event.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said in

his message during the Opening Ceremony that biotechnology has a very big potential in the country.

He expressed that utilizing biotechnology would contribute to more quality planting materials.

The National Biotech Week celebration involved scientic fora which tackled the potentials of

biotechnology for various industries conducted by co-organizing government and non-government

agencies, a biotech editorial cartoon contest, a biotech journalism award, a forum for communicators

and a lm showing on Bt corn and other products of biotechnology. (JAPanopio and SMMercado)

Bt Eggplant and Other Biotech Crops

Showcased in Philippine Biotech Week

Visitors view the BiotechTOONS Exhibit.

Third place winning entry for the amateur category

conveying farmers choice in using Bt eggplant.

First place winning entry for the professional

category.