{"id":2513,"date":"2011-05-10T05:04:24","date_gmt":"2011-05-10T05:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/?p=2513"},"modified":"2021-04-11T09:58:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T16:58:05","slug":"conversation-with-nina-on-gm-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/conversation-with-nina-on-gm-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Conversation with Nina on GM technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMO) has reached the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) early this year when a group of Greenpeace activists vandalized a GMO field trial.\u00a0 To clarify some of the issues regarding GMO, we contacted Saturnina \u201cNina\u201d Halos (Batch \u201964) who is one of the experts in this area. Tudla caught up with her while she was travelling in California and Southern America.<\/h5>\n
\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Nina<\/p>\n

\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Saturnina_Halos.jpg?fit=604%2C453&ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2515 \" title=\"Saturnina Halos\" src=\"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Saturnina_Halos-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Saturnina Halos\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" \/><\/a> Nina<\/p><\/div>\n

Nina is currently a consultant on biosafety at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and at COCAFM of the 14th Congress of the Philippines. \u00a0She has been the chair of the Biotechnology Advisory Team at the Department of Agriculture in the Philippines since 2002. She is the Executive Vice President of Amichem Corporation based in Los Ba\u00f1os, Philippines. She held various academic and administrative positions at UP (Los Banos and Diliman) and at De La Salle University in Manila. She served as a consultant to various agriculture-related projects in the Philippines and other countries. (To see more details about Nina's career highlights, please see the boxed section in page 2 of this post. Visit the Varrons Bibliography page<\/a> to look at some of her scientific publications.)<\/p>\n

Nina obtained her bachelor's degree in agriculture (plant breeding) as magna cum laude<\/em> from the University of the Philippines and her doctoral degree in genetics from University of California Berkeley.<\/p>\n

\n

You describe your current work as an advocate for GM crops and as a consultant on agricultural biotechnology policy in the Philippines.\u00a0 What exactly does this kind of work entail?\u00a0 To what extent do you interact with government agencies\/politicians\/private sectors\/non-government organizations?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As a consultant to the Department of Agriculture (DA), I provide technical advice on policy in biotechnology and help design and implement the programs that implement such policies. When the DA decided to adopt modern biotechnology as a tool to modernize Philippine agriculture, I designed the DA biotechnology program with 4 components: policy development, capacity-building, applied research and information, education and communications. One such policy is the establishment of a regulatory policy for GM crops. So, the DA program gave support to establish the regulatory system by funding extensive policy consultations among implementing agencies, affected sectors \u2013 farmers, scientists, food processors, commodity importers, NGOs and the general public, funding training programs to build the capacity of the regulatory agencies, funding research to develop new GM crops as well as comply with regulation by public institutions and fund IEC programs. In all these activities, I usually serve as resource person to explain modern biotechnology and the regulatory system, review research project proposals for possible funding and design the training programs for regulators.\u00a0 I also review decisions made by the BPI biotechnology core team on the applications for biosafety permits. The Philippine GM crop regulatory system is recognized by the APEC as a model for developing economies and I believe as the main technical advisor in its development, I did help very much in its development.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>\n

Nina Halos (left) attending a conference on the science of genetically modified crops in Thailand<\/p>\n

\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Halos_Thailand_Conference.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2516\" title=\"Nina Halos (left) attending a conference on science of genetically modified crops in Thailand\" src=\"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Halos_Thailand_Conference-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Nina Halos (left) attending a conference on the science of genetically modified crops in Thailand\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a> Nina Halos (left) attending a conference on the science of genetically modified crops in Thailand<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

I work closely with the Office of Policy and Planning, DA and the Biotechnology Core Team, BPI.\u00a0 I also served as a technical consultant to the Congressional Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization of the 13th Philippine Congress and serves voluntarily with Cong. Angelo Palmones of AGHAM. In relation to these, I drafted a bill on biotechnology development which was filed in the Senate by Sen Angara in the 13th as well as 14th Congress and filed by his son, Dado Arroyo and Angelo Palmones in the Lower House in the 14th Congress.<\/p>\n

I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) an NGO. We implement an advocacy program for modern biotechnology where we give seminars on modern biotechnology to LGUs, schools, youth organizations, farmer organizations, Congressional staff and members\u00a0 and other groups. We also run training program on modern biotechnology and regulations of GM crops.<\/p>\n

You have been in the academe as a professor and as a principal investigator\/researcher and as administrator.\u00a0 How do you compare your current line of work with your previous academic jobs?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

My current work has a wider and greater impact specifically on Philippine agriculture and on the economy as a whole. Having helped established a GM crop regulatory system which provided access to GM corn by Filipino farmers, I share the satisfaction with DA officials in noting that GM corn Filipino farmers gained and additional income of more than P4 billion in the first 6 years and the same amount annually when 400,000 has of GM corn has been planted in a year.\u00a0 We are hoping to deliver more GM technologies in the near future with the expectation that these technologies will help increase farmers' profits, reduce pesticide use,\u00a0 reduce adverse environmental impact of agriculture and reduce incidence of Vitamin A deficiency especially among\u00a0 the poor.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, my previous jobs as educator and researcher gave me respect from the public and policy makers and the confidence and necessary expertise to provide appropriate technical advice on biotechnology.<\/p>\n

I would like to say though that my mission as a scientist is to push for the adoption of modern technologies to improve Philippine society. Hence, I established the DNA Analysis Laboratory at UP Diliman and worked towards the acceptance of DNA evidence by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

Emil Q Javier, the President of the National Academy of Science and Technology in the Philippines, wrote in the March 26 online issue of The Manila Bulletin announcing the soon-to-be-released transgenic eggplant as the first Pinoy GMO crop.\u00a0 Some people may be surprised and wonder, perhaps naively, why the Philippines did not use rice (being the staple crop) as the flagship transgenic crop instead of eggplant.\u00a0 Is there an explanation for this?\u00a0 Is there a projected timeline for the Philippines to commercialize GMO rice products containing desirable traits (e.g., Golden rice).<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There are 4 GM crops nearing commercial release being developed by Philippine public institutions: delayed ripening papaya, Bt eggplant, Bt cotton and Golden rice. \u00a0I am not sure which one will be released first but since all have demonstrated the effectiveness of the transferred traits,\u00a0 it shall\u00a0 depend on which GM crop will be first to develop the full regulatory package.<\/p>\n

In the area of renewable energy, some academic and private companies in the US are already pursuing transgenic approach to improve potential bioenergy crops (e.g., improve their digestibility)?\u00a0 What is the situation in the Philippines in the area of bioenergy crops?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

No GM crops specifically for energy production as yet.<\/p>\n

Considering the recent vandalism committed by some Greenpeace activists on GM field trials in Los Banos, how would you assess the level of acceptance of GMO in the Philippines compared to other Asian countries? Or to European countries where resistance to GM technology is apparently enormous?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Several surveys done in the Philippines by academics, ILSI have shown general acceptance by various sectors: farmers, consumers, policy makers, etc.<\/p>\n

One of the concerns raised by some environmentalist groups against GMO is the safety of GM crops.\u00a0 Is this concern unfounded? \u00a0To an ordinary Pinoy citizen who is most likely not familiar with the technology, how would you answer the question to allay his concern?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Philippine regulatory system for GM crops was essentially established to ensure that any GM crop used as food, feed or for processing is as safe as its non-GM counterpart.\u00a0 The regulatory system assesses the safety for food and feed of GM crop prior to its entry in the food\/feed chain and if the GM crop is intended for planting, its environmental safety is assessed as well.<\/p>\n

What are the hurdles that need to be satisfied before a GM crop is released in the Philippines?\u00a0 How do you compare the standards set by the Philippines on releasing GM crops with that of other countries?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

To be able to plant a GM crop in the Philippines, the GM crop must undergo several safety assessment processes besides undertaking studies under strict confined standards. For a food GM crop, any new introduced protein or substance must be assessed for allergenicity and toxicity potentials, its nutritionally significant components must be compared with a non-GM variety\/ties, and possible adverse effects on the environment evaluated.\u00a0 It takes a multidisciplinary team to be able to generate all the data necessary to assess these safety parameters.<\/p>\n

Philippine safety standards for GM crops are similar to those adopted by the members of the OECD and of other countries adopting the Codex Alimentarius guidelines and the recommendations of the Panel of Experts of the OECD on environmental safety assessment.<\/p>\n

To be successful, one of the foundations of GM technology is an R&D infrastructure that allows discovery of genes that can be utilized in improving a particular trait in certain crops.\u00a0 If the Philippines is inclined to use this technology in the long term, what is the long-term outlook in the country to invest in this type of infrastructure?\u00a0 Is it fair to say that, in the absence of this infrastructure, the country would be too-dependent on the technology developed in the developed countries?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Since we have difficulty in maintaining long term research programs necessary to support R & D from gene discovery to commercial release of the GMO, the more practical strategy is to work with public\/private institutions in developed countries purposely established or have projects\/programs to undertake development of relevant GM crops for developing countries such as the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the US.<\/p>\n

What are the top three items in your wish list for science and research in the Philippines?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A long term program for S & T that is immune to changes in political administrations, better working environment for scientists and a larger community of productive scientists. The first 2 are important for the third to happen.<\/p>\n

Besides your work (and possibly facebook ), what are some of the things that you are passionate about these days?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

My family.<\/p>\n

Assuming that time-travelling is possible, what advice would you give to Nina Halos of 47 years ago who was about to join UP Varrons?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nina (extreme right, 3rd row) attending the 35th anniversary of the UP Varrons in 1997<\/p>\n

\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Pictures_from_eva_316.jpg?fit=764%2C664&ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2521 \" title=\"Nina (extreme right, 3rd row) attending the 35th anniversary of the UP Varrons in 1997\" src=\"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Pictures_from_eva_316-300x260.jpg\" alt=\"UP Varrons 35th Anniversary\" width=\"300\" height=\"260\" \/><\/a> Nina (extreme right, 3rd row) attending the 35th anniversary of the UP Varrons in 1997<\/p><\/div>\n

Go ahead join the Varrons, keep in touch and be active.<\/p>\n

The UP Varrons organization is going to celebrate its 50th<\/sup> anniversary next year.\u00a0 Any thoughts?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A lecture series at UPLB from established Varron members.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I work closely with the Office of Policy and Planning, DA and the Biotechnology Core Team, BPI.\u00a0 I also served as a technical consultant to 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