Articles

A very low-key field testing of genetically modified ”Golden Rice” in two Camarines Sur towns has stirred debate between organic farmers and farming advocates and those conducting the tests. Representatives of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag) and CamSur Organic Agriculture and Industrial Development Inc. (Camsoaid) raised alarm over the field tests, saying the genetically modified rice variety could contaminate traditional rice varieties in farms near the testing sites in the towns of Pili and Tigaon. [...] Dr. Antonio Alfonso, plant molecular biologist and head of Philippine Rice projects to test GMOs [...] said grains of Golden Rice were planted on a 950-square-meter area each in Pili and Tigaon last March and were harvested in June yielding about three sacks of grains per field test area. He said samples were taken for further study. Most of the harvest, he said, was destroyed.