‘Pinoy biotek’ products ripe
for commercialization

FARMERS engaged in both basic and high-end agriculture have much to benefit from products of modern biotechnology that are proudly "Pinoy," or biotechnology products developed by Filipino scientists that are up for grabs for commercialization at the University of the Philippines–Los Baños (UPLB).

These "Pinoy Biotek" products that thrive at UPLB, the country’s hub of agricultural science and technology and agri-biotechnology research and development, are now ripe for commercialization says UPLB Chancellor Rey Luis Velasco.

Velasco led the symbolic unveiling of "Pinoy Biotek" or biotechnology products at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) building at UPLB Tuesday, marking the third day of the weeklong celebration of the National Biotechnology Week.

Among the guests who graced the event are Director Alicia Ilaga of the DA Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), Dr. Edita Burgos, Executive Director of the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC) and Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin, National President of Biotechnology Information Organization Network (BIONet).

The unveiling of the "Pinoy Biotek" products formally opened a three-day exhibit at the NIMBB showcasing biotechnology products developed by Filipino scientists from national government and private research institutes including the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

UPLB has around 200 different technologies and products that were developed by scientists and science researchers through the years, all of which aims to increase yield and reduce farm costs and make the various agriculture sub-sector, particularly crop and livestock competitive.

Among those featured are products that are available for commercial release such as bioorganic fertilizers to enhance growth of various crops and high-value vegetables, personal health-care products, supplements for health and wellness and animal vaccines.

The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) have also exhibited their latest disease-free planting materials of traditional crops such as cassava, papaya, tomato, abaca, corn and avocado, which were produced through tissue-culture.

IPB is also developing transgenic fruits, vegetables and other crops that are resistant to pest and virus such as multi-virus resistant tomato, papaya resistant to the ring spot virus, papaya with delayed ripening trait and pest-resistant eggplant that are genetically induced with Bacillus thuriengiensis.

Director Dr. Ida F. Dalmacio said NIMBB is also engaged in extensive research and development for biofuels production, including studies on possible plant sources of biofuels raw materials such as jatropha and sweet sorghum and other starchy crops.

"Farmers have been benefiting from these Pinoy Biotek products and we are proud that we are now ready to release them commercially," she said.