St. Louis, MO (PRWEB via PRWebDirect) July 9, 2007 -- In 2006, approximately 100,000 Filipino farmers grew 0.5 million acres of GM corn or Bt corn crops. This is an impressive increase of 100 percent over 2005 plantings and one of the largest proportional or percentage increases worldwide in 2006. In an exclusive video interview and podcast, Filipino farmer Seferino Cosme describes some of the 538643 benefits of growing Bt corn in the Philippines, including increased income and an improvement in his family’s livelihood.
“When I was using the conventional method of planting corn, we yielded 60 cavans from a hectare. So, I only got a little. Then after seeing this biotechnology, I decided to try it myself,” says Cosme, who has farmed for more than 40 years and earned just enough income to pay expenses and tide his family over until the next harvest season.
The livelihood of Filipino farmers who have typical land holdings of 2.5 – 12.5 acres (1 - 5 hectares) is dependent on maximizing production on every acre. “When I planted 1 hectare [of Bt corn, it yielded 150 cavans — which is more than double what I harvested before. … That’s when our livelihood became stable, and we were able to save and build our new house. … Since I started planting Bt corn, I feel as if our family has become more financially comfortable, and with that follow other comforts in life. I was, in fact, able to spend for my children’s wedding in a manner that we would have liked to.”
Bt corn contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects corn plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests such as the Asian corn borer. Filipino farmers face persistently high levels of Asian corn borers, which infest their corn crops and decrease yields. “Many people ask me what I did to become so successful in planting corn. … I always tell them that Bt corn is the key,” says Cosme. “What I want to happen – and dream of doing in the near future – is to be able to plant more and expand more, and be able to give each of my children, who have families now, a farm to plant on their own.”
In addition to Cosme’s video, visitors to the Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web site can access comments from other farmers about their experiences with plant biotechnology in the Philippines – including Jesus Gavino who discusses the advantages of growing genetically engineered food, Jerry Due who has reduced spraying of agricultural pesticides, and Roman Bernal who believes the pros of biotechnology are primarily related to the improved welfare of his family.
Conversations about Plant Biotechnology is designed to give a voice and a face to the farmers and families who grow GM crops and the experts who research and study the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture. The Web site contains more than 60, two- to three-minute, extremely candid, straightforward and compelling video segments with the people who know the technology best. The Web site is hosted by Monsanto Company — a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
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