The Case for Peaceful Coexistence Between

Biotech and Organic Farming

Saturnina C Halos, PhD

Director for Research,
Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines

Paper presented Provincial Agricultural Officers (PAOs) on November 9, 2017, 9:00am – 4:00pm at La Breza Hotel,
Mother Ignacia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City and for Regional Field Officers (RFOs) on November 21, 2017, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Organic agriculture includes all agricultural systems that promote the
ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically
feasible production of food and fibers. Organic agricultural dramatically
reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers,
pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areas such as, but not limited to,
soil fertility management, varietal breeding and selection under chemical &
pesticide-free conditions, the use of biotechnology and other cultural practices
that are consistent with the principles and policies of this Act, and
enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers,
consumers and the environment as defined by the International Federation
of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM):

Provided, That the biotechnology herein to shall not include genetically

modified organisms or GMOs. (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, RA 10068)
Organic agriculture regulated – use of organic label restricted to
those accredited organic farms
Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, RA 10068)
Organic agriculture standards
PNS/BAFPS 07:2003
ICS 65.020
Organic Agriculture Specification
Part 1: Conversion to Organic Agriculture
Part 2: Crop production
Part 3: Livestock
Part 4: Processing
Part 5: Special products
Part 6: Labeling and consumer information
 GM crop farming – highly regulated , pre-farming and pre-market
standards for food and environmental safety must be met &
socio-economic and ethical issues considered
Joint Department Circular No. 1 ser 2016
Rules and Regulations for the Research and Development,
Handling and Use, Transboundary Movement, Release into
the Environment, and Management of Genetically-Modified
Plant and Plant Products Derived from the Use of
Modern Biotechnology
Approval for release of a GM crop for the experimentation, marketing
& farming depends on safety assessment
Biotech crop farming & organic agriculture
Common objective
Sustainable agriculture
- economically viable, safe & environment-
friendly, agricultural system
Common result – climate change mitigation
Regulatory differences
Organic agriculture – regulated to ensure
production standards are met
GM crops – regulated to ensure food and
environmental safety; social, ethical &
economic considered
Recall of organic foods – deaths and illnesses
due to bacterial contamination
Recall of biotech events –
regulatory non-compliance
Rates of adoption
GM crop adoption: year introduced 1996,
 2015 – 179.7 million hectares planted
 28 countries,
 >18 million farmers
16.5 million resource-poor small farmers
 IPR technologies, 17 crops
 Spread of technologies led by large
multinational corporations,
(only 6 worldwide)
From: James C. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2015. ISAAA Brief 51-2015 ISAAA Ithaca NY
Rates of adoption
Organic agriculture (includes pasture,
livestock, crops) – year introduced 1920’s,
 2015 – 43.7 million hectares
 172 countries
 2.3 million producers
 No IPRs, many crops,
 Farmer-based technologies,
 spread of technology by individuals,
small groups, supported by consumers
with similar philosophies, NGOs, currently
promoted by FAO and governments
Figures from http://www.ifoam.org annual report 2015
Environmental benefits: Biotech crops
Climate change mitigation

 Reduction in pesticide – (1996 to 2012)

~500 million kgs a.i.
= 18.5% cut in associated adverse
environmental impact
 Annual reduction in CO2 emission (2011-13)
= withdrawing >10 million cars off the road
 Ref: Brookes G, Barfoot P papers in 2012-14
Farming with Biotech organisms (Philippines)
Livestock production – totally dependent
on GMOs
Feeds - Biotech soya (>98% imported from
Biotech soya-producers – USA, Canada,
Argentina, Brazil; non-biotech soya more
expensive, limited supply)
Biotech corn - now locally grown
Biotech enzymes
Biotech vaccines – safer, GM vaccines can
not cause disease
Farming with Biotech organisms (Philippines)
Livestock production – totally dependent
on GMOs
Feeds - Biotech soya (>98% imported from
Biotech soya-producers – USA, Canada,
Argentina, Brazil; non-biotech soya more
expensive, limited supply)
Biotech corn - now locally grown
Biotech enzymes
Biotech vaccines – safer, GM vaccines can
not cause disease
Farming with Biotech corn (Philippines)
Biotech corn farming started in Philippines in
2002 with DA AO 8
Mainly yellow hybrid feed corn
Total hectarage 2014 - 2015 - 688,218 has
No. of farmers - >350,000
Total cumulative additional income due to
yield increases in 2006-2010 yrs
- ₱ 7.4 Billion
in 2011-2012 - ₱18.6 Billion
Organic agriculture (Philippines) 2013
Number of farmers – >8,000
Provinces adopting organic agriculture –
Bohol, Negros Occ, Negros Or

DA Annual Budget for organic agriculture

₱900 Million

DA target for organic agriculture conversion

– 5.0% of agriculture area
Co-existence – presence in the same area
of organic agriculture and GM crop
farming
Risk: Possible cross pollination between
GM variety and non-GM variety of the same
species in organic farms
Depends on distance between farms,
species ( cross-pollinated vs. self-
pollinated), use of common harvesting and
post-harvest equipment and level of
intrusion
Strategies to prevent cross pollination
between GM crop and non-GM variety in
organic farms
Adopt measures used for producing
foundation/breeders/registered seeds
1. Planting at different times
2. Planting a tall, thick hedge between
the two fields
3. Planting away from each other: Planting
distance – 200-500 meters for cross
pollinating species -10 meters for self-
pollinating species
GM crop field trial facility, NIAES, Tsukuba, Japan
Permanent hedges preventing cross-pollination
GM crop field trial facility, NIAES, Tsukuba, Japan
Co-existence - major GM crop producers,
also major organic food producers
(2009)
Producer GM crops Organic agriculture
(has) (has)
Argentina 21.3 million 4 million
Australia 200,000 12 million
Brazil 21.4 million 1.8 million
Canada 8.2 million 628,556
China 3.7 million 1.8 million
India 8.4 million 1.0 million
Mexico 100,000 332, 485
USA 64 M 1.9 million
Uruguay 800,000 930,965
Thank you