NSTP identifies development priorities for biotechnology
Margust Dela Cerna | August 19, 2024
The Philippine National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP), covering the years 2002 to 2020, has outlined crucial development priorities for biotechnology across several sectors, including agriculture, forestry, health, environment, energy, and manufacturing.
Author Fortunato dela Pena reports that specific applications of biotechnology have been identified in each sector. In agriculture and fisheries, the focus is on varietal improvement and sustainable production to enhance food security. For forestry, efforts concentrate on maintaining and maximizing forestry resources. In the health and medical sciences sector, biotechnology is aimed at the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The marine sciences sector is working on developing marine bioindustries, while in energy, the emphasis is on creating renewable energy resources. Manufacturing is leveraging biotechnology for novel processes, using microorganisms as “miniature factories” to produce desired products, and environmental applications include bioremediation efforts.
The NSTP also emphasizes priority research and development areas within biotechnology, such as plant tissue culture, immuno-based diagnostics, protein and DNA markers, microbial transformations, plant transformations, genome mapping, gene cloning, and mammalian tissue culture. Correspondingly, sectoral R&D councils have aligned their medium-term plans with these priorities.
In agriculture, biotechnology R&D aims to create breakthroughs such as fertilizer substitutes, genetically engineered organisms, biological pest control, and diagnostic tools for plants and animals. The industrial sector’s R&D will focus on producing specialty chemicals, including food additives and intermediate chemicals used in food and chemical processing, especially enzymes and organic acids.
In the health sector, there is a strong emphasis on developing diagnostics that support disease treatment and vaccines for emerging and infectious diseases.
In line with these strategic priorities and the approach of niching and clustering, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology are advocating for the establishment of a Biotechnology Cluster within the Export Development Council. This initiative aims to boost the growth and development of the biotechnology industry in the Philippines, particularly within the agricultural and health bioindustry subsectors, which present promising opportunities for growth.
Author Fortunato dela Pena reports that specific applications of biotechnology have been identified in each sector. In agriculture and fisheries, the focus is on varietal improvement and sustainable production to enhance food security. For forestry, efforts concentrate on maintaining and maximizing forestry resources. In the health and medical sciences sector, biotechnology is aimed at the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The marine sciences sector is working on developing marine bioindustries, while in energy, the emphasis is on creating renewable energy resources. Manufacturing is leveraging biotechnology for novel processes, using microorganisms as “miniature factories” to produce desired products, and environmental applications include bioremediation efforts.
The NSTP also emphasizes priority research and development areas within biotechnology, such as plant tissue culture, immuno-based diagnostics, protein and DNA markers, microbial transformations, plant transformations, genome mapping, gene cloning, and mammalian tissue culture. Correspondingly, sectoral R&D councils have aligned their medium-term plans with these priorities.
In agriculture, biotechnology R&D aims to create breakthroughs such as fertilizer substitutes, genetically engineered organisms, biological pest control, and diagnostic tools for plants and animals. The industrial sector’s R&D will focus on producing specialty chemicals, including food additives and intermediate chemicals used in food and chemical processing, especially enzymes and organic acids.
In the health sector, there is a strong emphasis on developing diagnostics that support disease treatment and vaccines for emerging and infectious diseases.
In line with these strategic priorities and the approach of niching and clustering, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology are advocating for the establishment of a Biotechnology Cluster within the Export Development Council. This initiative aims to boost the growth and development of the biotechnology industry in the Philippines, particularly within the agricultural and health bioindustry subsectors, which present promising opportunities for growth.
