Biotech scientists have the ‘best of intentions’
Sebastian Montemayor | July 09, 2024
A retired government agriculture expert believes that biotechnology scientists have the best of intentions since genetically enhanced products that are now in the global market passed multiple assessments and had a history of safe use. “They do not want to create products that would cause harm, but that will be to the benefit of us all,” according to Dr. Vivencio Mamaril, a retired Department of Agriculture (DA) scientist.
“I believe that the scientists who work on these projects have the best of intentions”
It will be recalled that last April, the Court of Appeals issued a cease-and-desist order on the commercial propagation of genetically modified crops Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant.
The decision follows the Writ of Kalikasan issued by the Supreme Court back in April 2023,stemming from petitions by anti-GMO groups Greenpeace and MASIPAG, citing concerns of environmental safety due to lack of data.
But it was also a fact that Golden Rice passed the Joint Department Circular No. 1 which covers GMO regulations and assessed as safe by various international food regulatory agencies, while Bt Eggplant has been commercialized in Bangladesh since 2014.Dr. Vivencio Mamaril, however, said that the Appellate Court simply asked for more information regarding the these genetically engineered crops.
