“Ag Biotech – Improving Farmers’ Lives”BIO International Convention 2009

Atlanta, GA USA

ROSALIE M. ELLASUSSmallholder FarmerImmediate Past PresidentPHILMAIZE

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROMISE..Growth for a Better World

•IMPROVE FARMERS’ LIVES Increasing incomes and standards of living

•PRODUCE MORE Helping farmers meet the needs of a growing planet

•CONSERVE MORE Preserving natural resources for future generations

PLEDGED TO HELP FARMERS GROW YIELD SUSTAINABLY SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCE HEALTHIER FOODS, BETTER ANIMAL FEEDS , FUELAND MORE FIBER……. Round Up Ready spraying

PHILIPPINES…

•1st country in Asia to have biotechnology crop for food and feed approved for commercialization.•Biotech mega country growing of biotech crops.•1990 – EO 430 signed by Pres. C. Aquino•1998 – Ratification and Effectivity of NCBP•2002 – AO8 Implementation of Guidelines for importation and release of GMO •2003 – commercial planting of Bt corn was initiated.•2007 – shortage of biotech corn seeds in the market.•2008 – adoption of biotech maize increased to almost 500T hectares.

Backgrounder..

ZERO KNOWLEDGE IN FARMING

•B.S. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE (CY 1980)

•WORKED AS OFW FOR 11 YEARS (SINGAPORE) LEAVING 3 SONS & HUSBAND IN THE PHILS. (1987 – 1998)

•HUSBAND PASSED AWAY IN THE YEAR 1995

•RETURNED HOME FOR GOOD IN THE YEAR 1998

Becoming a Farmer making headways….

- Income from office work (8am-5pm) not enough to support family and children’s education;

- Used savings to buy 1.3 has. of farm lot planted to rice and corn in farmer-tenant sharing;

- Invested in public use vehicle and started backyard piggery;

- Decided to become hands-on farmer; studied how to grow rice and corn with help from government agriculture program – Integrated Pest Management Farmers’ Field School (IPM-FFS).

Learning Farming thru’Integrated Pest Management – Farmers’ Field School PLOUGHING ROTOVATING

PULVORIZINGFURROWING

Organic/inorganic mixing

Manual Planting

Off Barring

Basal application

Irrigation

Weeding

TRICHOGRAMMAAPPLICATION FUNGAL

APPLICATIONPEST MONITORING

HARVESTING SHELLING

COB DRYINGCORN GRAINS DRYING MARKETING

In spite of good agricultural practices using conventional hybrid corn seeds, we farmers can’t get away with……….

a.a. Asian Corn BorerAsian Corn Borerb.b. Army worms etc..Army worms etc..c.c. weedsweeds

Quality Standards Required by Feed Millers/End Users

• 14% Moisture Content (MC)• 20 PPB food grade or 50 PPB feed grade “AFLATOXIN”• 3% or less broken grains• 3-4% or less dirt and foreign matters• no rancid odor or foul odor

“DREAM… BELIEVE… AND SURVIVE”

-In 2002, visited Bt corn field trial in nearby town; impressed by clean leaves and cobs because no borer attacks

- Own farm used as techno demo site for Biotech corn

- In 2003, coop members planted BT/YG in commercial scale

- Planting stacked corn (YG/RRC2) from 2006 to present..

Reaping Benefits…

- With biotech corn, yield increased from 3.2 to 7.3 metric tons per hectare

- More income with higher yields, very seldom or even no rejects from feed millers because of clean, quality corn seeds

-With BT corn <less insect monitoring, reduce spraying of pesticides

-Safe for human & animal consumption

Reaping Benefits…

Adapting Stacked Corn (YG/RRC2)1)Insect protection & weed control2)Healthy corn plants and clean kernels 3)Highest Yield I harvested @9.2MT per hectare

Planting Stacked Corn….•Mitigate soil erosion by practicing minimal tillage•Zero tillage = savings on cultivation costs•Reduced lodging•Less Time consuming

Changes gained using “STACKED CORN”1) Cleaner and healthier farm2) Peace of mind with biotech maize3) Better income, expand land to 10 has.4) Income from BT corn farming, help children’s college education5) Owned modern farm machineries

Additional Economic Benefits using BT Corn…

•Corn Husks or by-products of BT corn are sturdy and flawless for handicrafts or novelties •Shiny and no traces of insect infestations

FLE – Farmer Leader Extension..•(2002 – 2007) Chairman San Jacinto Kasakalikasan MPC

•(2002 – 2007) Chairman Pangasinan Corn Growers Assn.

•(2002 – Presen) Regional Representative of Philmaize

•(2006 – 2008) National President Philmaize Federation Inc.

•(2004 – Present) Regional Representative ASFARNET (ASIA)

•(2006 – Present) Vice-Chairman National Competitiveness Corn Board

• (2007- Present) Municipal Councilor of San Jacinto, Pangasinan

Different Activities…•Organized National Corn Congress every year•Assisted in the Renewal of Permit of MON810’s commercialization•We lobby, monitor, evaluate National Government Programs under DA-GMA Corn •Advocate the Benefits of Biotechnology Corn nationwide•Intervene on Import/Export of Corn in price and volume•Close Collaboration with Technology Developer •Regular Meetings/Consultations and Interactions with Dept. of Agriculture and it’s agencies, Livestock Dept., Private Sectors and other Corn Stakeholders.

Being an Avid Fan of Biotech Corn….

JANUARY 19, 2007 AT CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

>MEXICO FORUM – PRESENTE Y FUTURO DEL CAMPO MEXICANO “UNA VISION COMPETITIVA” (March 2008)

>38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF WESTERN CANADIAN WHEAT GROWERS ASSOCIATION “PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES (MINNEAPOLIS, U.S.A. – Sept. 2007)

>Seminar on Agricultural Biotechnology: “The Prospect and the Role of Agricultural Biotechnology for Community Welfare in Indonesia” at Medan, Indonesia (July 2008)

>THE WORKSHOP ON: “Current Status of Bio-Safety of Genetic Engineering Products at Bogor University, Bogor, Indonesia (August 2007))

>INAUGURAL FARMER TO FARMER GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE (WORLD FOOD PRIZE at Des Moines, Iowa USA, Oct. 2006 )

>FARMER BIOTECH OUTREACH: “Strengthening the Competitiveness of Small Farmers” (PHILIPPINES, Sept. 2006)

>ASIAN FARMERS’ EXCHANGE PROGRAM “Knowledge and Experience Sharing in Planting GM Crops “ (PHILIPPINES, Dec. 2006)

>PRESS CONFERENCE “Progress and Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2007 (PHILIPPINES, Feb. 2008)

-SHARE BIOTECH EXPERIENCE TO PERU SCIENTISTS AT SEARCA-BIC, UP COLLEGE, LAGUNA (SEPT. 2008) AND VIETNAMESE ACADEMES AT MEXICO & CLARK, PAMPANGA (DEC 01, 2008)

-INTERVIEWED ON THE PHONE BY THE US SOYA BEAN BOARD AS BIOTECH FARMER EXPERT REPRESENTING THE PHILIPPINES (OCT. 2008)

Shared Biotech Experience at Ormoc City, Visayas (May 13, 2009)“MEDIA WORKSHOP” – Creating Public Awareness, Knowledge and Understanding of Biotech Crops

Due to my passion in Biotech Farming…

KLECKNER TRADE & TECHNOLOGYADVANCEMENT AWARDWORLD FOOD PRIZEDes Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.October 18, 2007

Sponsored by: TRUTH ABOUT TRADE & TECHNOLOGY

1ST RECIPIENT

Continuing My Biotech Journey…Then… A BT Corn Seed Grower

Harvesting BT Seeds Produce….* seed company demand for not less than 98%seed purity*

Unstoppable Journey…..

* FIELD DAY AS “FARMER SCIENTIST” USING MY OWN BIOTECH CORN PRODUCED FOR THE ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR SLAUGHTER SWINE PRODUCTION* (NOV. 2008)

CONDUCT CEP (CONTINUOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM TO REMOTE VILLAGES/NEW OPEN AREAS FOR CORN PRODUCTION IN REGION 1 W/ SLOGAN “MINIMIZING INPUTS AND MAXIMIZING YIELD THRU’ BIOTECH CROPS, MICROBIAL AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS..)

Unexpected Mission??

In order to grasp tomorrow’s challenge…

•Biotech Crops that is *drought tolerant *nitrogen sufficient *abundant water tolerant

•Good Post Harvest Facilities – more solar dryers and mechanical dryers

•Good Agricultural Practices Dissemination & Continuous Education Program for farmers especially in the remote villages

•Pre and Post Marketing Linkages