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Philippine
biotech firm to apply for commercial use for Bt corn
Dow Jones
(via Agnet)
22-Oct-2002
MANILA -
Biotechnology research firm Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines Inc. was
cited as saying Tuesday it will apply for commercialization of the
genetically altered bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, corn next month
when it harvests the crop from its multi-locational field tests.
Pioneer's
Country Manager Jet G. Parma was cited as saying the company will
harvest next month its Bt corn from the field tests, which were
conducted in five different locations. Pioneer is a unit of Dupont
& Co.
Pioneer is
conducting field tests for the wet season Bt corn crop and plans to
conduct its dry season crop early next year. Parma said Pioneer won't
wait for the result of the dry season crop and the company will file
its application for the commercial use of Bt corn as soon as the
results of the wet season crop are out.
Parma was
further cited as saying Pioneer is optimistic it will reap
encouraging results from the field tests, adding, "We expect to
see a 30% yield difference."
Parma said the
company will conduct another set of multi-locational field test for
the dry season of crop year 2003 to substantiate its claims on the
yield difference.
Biotechnology
guidelines released by the Philippine Department of Agriculture
require local testing of the technology including contained testing
in a greenhouse, a single location field test and a multi-locational
field test.
Pioneer is
actually testing the same Bt corn seeds called Yieldgard introduced
by Monsanto Philippines. Monsanto filed last month its application
for commercialization of its own Bt corn.
http://www.searca.org/~bic/news/ctry/phil/Oct2002/22.htm
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