At a time when biotechnology remains one of the most debated frontiers in Philippine agriculture, Filipino scientists and agricultural experts are calling for a simple yet often overlooked principle in policymaking: listen to the farmers.
Dr. Clarisse Gonzalvo, a biotechnology researcher from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), noted that after more than two decades of genetically modified (GM) corn cultivation in the country, one truth has become clear — many smallholder farmers have embraced the technology not because of policy pressure or subsidies, but because of their own experience in the fields.
“When in doubt, listen,” Gonzalvo said during a media forum on biotechnology and regulation on Tuesday.
"We’ve been debating biotechnology for years, but the farmers who plant Bt corn every season already know its benefits.
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