Biotechnology has been used in many areas related to food and nutrition.

In fact, the first commercially

produced genetically engineered product was human insulin. Next was an enzyme, chymosin, produced
with biotechnology that replaced the rennet used in cheese production.
In 1982, biotechnology was used to develop human insulin for diabetes treatment. Prior to this
development, animal insulins from the pancreas of cows and pigs were used. The synthetic human insulin
has several advantages, including fewer insulin antibodies, less insulin allergy, more rapid absorption,
earlier peak, and shorter duration time than the animal insulins (4).
Chymosin, an enzyme which replaces rennet in cheese production, was first approved for use in the
United States in 1990. Not only has it eliminated the need to use rennet from calves stomachs in cheese
production, it has also advanced cheese production due to its purity and quality compared to rennet.
A more recent focus of biotechnology has been to enhance the nutrient content of food. This area
includes the development of oils with reduced saturated fat content and rice that has been modified to
have high carotene (a vitamin A precursor) levels (1).
There are foods and crops produced using biotechnology that are available in the United States. These
include (1):

Tomatoes with delayed ripening traits that have better flavor, remain fresh longer and withstand
transport better than traditional tomatoes.
Soybeans, canola, corn, cotton and potatoes resistant to either insects, herbicides or both.
Squash resistant to a virus that often kills the vegetable on the vine.
Soybeans and canola that produce reduced saturated fat cooking oil.

All of these foods have undergone rigorous testing. Testing and labeling of genetically modified foods will
be discussed further in Lesson Two. For information on the American Dietetics Associations official stand
on biotechnology, read the ADA position paper on biotechnology (2).

Module 1: Basic Biotechnology

Biotechnology has been used with plants in many applications, including:

Insect protection that comes from within the plants, rather than from externally applied pesticides.
Herbicide tolerance that makes weed control more effective and reduces the amount of herbicide
applications needed.
Disease protection that comes from within the plant to provide protection from specific viral or
fungal diseases.
Improved nutritional profiles, food quality and/or food processing advantages (1).

By modifying a plants production of linoleic acid, it can better withstand cold temperatures and
frost.
Desirable functional characteristics -o Potatoes rDNA-engineered for a higher starch content will absorb less oil when deep
fried, resulting in French fries with less fat (1).
o Tomatoes bioengineered for delayed ripening may stay on the vine longer, resulting in
better flavor and color before being picked and shipped to market (1).
o Enhanced nutritional characteristics -- Adding Vitamin A to rice (called Golden Rice).

Biotechnology is often considered synonymous with the biomedical research, but there are many other
industries which take advantage of biotech methods for studying, cloning and altering genes. We have
become accustomed to the idea ofenzymes in our everyday lives and many people are familiar with the
controversies surrounding the use of GMOs in our foods. The agricultural industry is at the center of that
debate, but since the days of George Washington Carver, agricultural biotech has been producing
countless new products that have the potential to change our lives for the better.
1. Vaccines
Oral vaccines have been in the works for many years as a possible solution to the spread of disease in
underdeveloped countries, where costs are prohibitive to widespread vaccination. Genetically engineered crops,
usually fruits or vegetables, designed to carry antigenic proteins from infectious pathogens, that will trigger an
immune response when injested. An example of this is a patient-specific vaccine for treating cancer. An antilymphoma vaccine has been made using tobacco plants carrying RNA from cloned malignant B-cells. The resulting
protein is then used to vaccinate the patient and boost their immune system against the cancer.Tailor-made vaccines
for cancer treatment have shown considerable promise in preliminary studies.
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2. Antibiotics
Plants are used to produce antibiotics for both human and animal use. Expressing antibiotic proteins in livestock
feed, fed directly to animals, is less costly than traditional antibiotic production, but this practice raises
many bioethics issues, because the result is widespread, possibly unneccessary use of antibiotics which may promote
growth of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Several advantages to using plants to produce antibiotics for humans
are reduced costs due to the larger amount of product that can be produced from plants versus a fermentation unit,
ease of purification, and reduced risk of contamination compared to that of using mammalian cells and culture
media.
3. Flowers
There is more to agricultural biotechnology than just fighting disease or improving food quality. There are some
purely aesthetic applications and an example of this is the use of gene identification and transfer techniques
to improve the color, smell, size and other features of flowers. Likewise, biotech has been used to make
improvements to other common ornamental plants, in particular, shrubs and trees. Some of these changes are
similar to those made to crops, such as enhancing cold resistance of a breed of tropical plant, so it can be grown in
northern gardens.
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4. Biofuels
The agricultural industry plays a large role in the biofuels industry, providing the feedstocks for fermentation and
refining of bio-oil, bio-diesel and bio-ethanol. Genetic engineering and enzyme optimization techniques are being
used to develop better quality feedstocks for more efficient conversion and higher BTU outputs of the resulting fuel
products. High-yielding, energy-dense crops can minimize relative costs associated with harvesting and
transportation (per unit of energy derived), resulting in higher value fuel products.
5. Plant and Animal Breeding
Enhancing plant and animal traits by traditional methods like cross-pollination, grafting, and cross-breeding is timeconsuming. Biotech advances allow for specific changes to be made quickly, on a molecular level through overexpression or deletion of genes, or the introduction of foreign genes. The latter is possible using gene expression
control mechanisms such as specific gene promoters and transcription factors. Methods like marker-assisted
selection improve the efficiency of "directed"animal breeding, without the controversy normally associated with
GMOs. Gene cloning methods must also address species differences in the genetic code, the presence or absence of
introns and post-translational modifications such as methylation.
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6. Pest Resistant Crops
For years, the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces a protein toxic to insects, in particular the European
corn borer, was used to dust crops. To eliminate the need for dusting, scientists first developed transgenic corn
expressing Bt protein, followed by Bt potato and cotton. Bt protein is not toxic to humans, and transgenic crops
make it easier for farmers to avoid costly infestations. In 1999 controversy emerged over Bt corn because of a study
that suggested the pollen migrated onto milkweed where it killed monarch larvae that ate it. Subsequent studies
demonstrated the risk to the larvae was very small and, in recent years, the controversy over Bt corn has switched
focus, to the topic of emerging insect resistance.
7. Pesticide-Resistant Crops
Not to be confused with pest-resistance, these plants are tolerant of pesticides, allowing farmers to selectively kill
surrounding weeds without harming their crop. The most famous example of this is the Roundup-Ready

technology, developed by Monsanto. First introduced in 1998 as GM soybeans, Roundup-Ready plants are
unaffected by the herbicide glyphosate, which can be applied in copious quantities to eliminate any other plants in
the field. The benefits to this are savings in time and costs associated with conventional tillage to reduce weeds, or
multiple applications of different types of herbicides to selectively eliminate specific species of weeds. The possible
drawbacks include all the controversial arguments against GMOs.
8. Nutrient Supplementation
In an effort to improve human health, particularly in underdeveloped countries, scientists are creating genetically
altered foods that contain nutrients known to help fight disease or malnourishment. An example of this is Golden
Rice, which contains beta-carotene, the precursor for Vitamin A production in our bodies. People who eat the rice
produce more Vitamin A, an essential nutrient lacking in the diets of the poor in Asian countries. Three genes, two
from daffodils and one from a bacterium, capable of catalyzing four biochemical reactions, were cloned into rice to
make it "golden". The name comes from the color of the transgenic grain due to overexpression of beta-carotene,
which gives carrots their orange color.
9. Abiotic Stress Resistance
Less than 20% of the earth is arable land but some crops have been genetically altered to make them more tolerant
of conditions like salinity, cold and drought. The discovery of genes in plants responsible for sodium uptake has lead
to development of knock-out plants able to grow in high salt environments. Up- or down-regulation
of transcription is generally the method used to alter drought-tolerance in plants. Corn and rapeseed plants, able to
thrive under drought conditions, are in their fourth year of field trials in California and Colorado, and it is
anticipated that they'll reach the market in 4-5 years.
10. Industrial Strength Fibers
Spider silk is the strongest fiber known to man, stronger than kevlar (used to make bullet-proof vests), with a
higher tensile strength than steel. In August 2000, Canadian company Nexia announced development of transgenic
goats that produced spider silk proteins in their milk. While this solved the problem of mass-producing the
proteins, the program was shelved when scientists couldn't figure out how to spinthem into fibers like spiders do.
By 2005, the goats were up for sale to anyone who would take them. While it seems the spider silk idea has been
put on the shelf for the time-being, it is a technology that is sure to appear again in the future, once more
information is gathered on how the silks are woven.

Philippines
National IPM Programme

From its modest beginnings of an FAO-assisted pilot Farmer Field School (FFS) project in 1992, the
Philippine National IPM Program or KASAKALIKASAN has become a self-reliant national program with
funding support from national and local governments.
KASAKALIKSAN is implemented in 78 provinces and 3 chartered cities covering almost 11,000
barangays in 1,226 municipalities nationwide.

Achievements:
There have been significant reductions in insecticide usage in rice, corn and vegetable production
resulting from the implementation and promotion of the National IPM Program as shown on the trends in
insecticide use and frequency of application in major rice producing provinces in Central and Southern
Luzon (Rola & Pingali, 1993; Mataia, Jamora, Maya & Dawe, 2009; Warburton, Palis & Pingali, 1995;
Dawe, 2006; IRRI, 2007).

Despite marked reductions in pesticide use among IPM FFS farmers, average yields have increased by
10-14% with yield variability across seasons decreasing by 12.5-17.3% (KaPCIE, Searca, 1997). National
paddy rice production increased by 60%, from 10.5 MMT in 1994 to 16.8 MMT in 2007.
Farmer education in IPM, together with pesticide policy changes have been successful at reducing
incidence of pesticide poisoning, from 3.27 during 1982-1985 to 1.08 in 1991-1995 (Panganiban, 2002). A
comparison of results from a 2007 survey of farmers with 1989 survey data in Nueva Ecija, a major ricegrowing province, show a 50% reduction in the number of farmers reporting pesticide illness (Rola &
Pingali, 1993).
Sustainability:
KASAKALIKASAN has successfully brought a new brand of IPM to Filipino farmers. The Philippine
Government has maintained a high level of political will, supporting IPM in the face of vested interest
opposition.
In May 1993, Presidential Memorandum Order No. 126 laid the basis for the implementation of the
National IPM Program aimed at making IPM the standard approach to crop husbandry and pest

management. With the devolution of agriculture extension to local governments, provincial governors and
municipal mayors were tasked to create Training Teams to train farmers in season-long FFS.
In 1997, the Philippine Congress legislated the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act calling for the
development of medium and long-term plans at reducing the use of agrichemicals. The FFS became the
extension approach of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Programs in Rice, Corn and High Value
Commercial Crops with IPM as the crop protection strategy. For 2009, the Department of Agriculture is
allocating US$25M in its F.I.E.L.D.S. budget for the conduct of Training of Trainers and FFSs targeting
3,500 extension workers and 600,000 rice, corn and vegetable farmers.
In response to greater awareness on the hazards of pesticides to human health and the environment,
major changes have been made to pesticide regulations. The Philippine Government banned all
pesticides belonging to the Dirty Dozen, all organotin and Category 1 compounds, while restricting
endosulfan to 5 EC. The Central Bank guidelines called for the non-issuance of Letters of Credit for the
importation of banned pesticides. The Department of the Interior and Local Government likewise enjoined
all provincial governors and municipally mayors to effectively enforce of the pesticide ban.
Over the years, local governments provided both moral and fiscal support to their local IPM programs,
shouldering at least 15% to 100% of the cost of a season-long FFS. IPM Farmer Congresses and IPM
Field Days are conducted through counterpart funding from Internal Revenue Allotments from local
government units. Regional, provincial and municipal federations of IPMFFS farmers have been
organized and have been active in sustaining local governments support to sustainable agriculture.
KASAKALIKASAN has been actively collaborating with 24 NGOs and church-based organizations to
develop their technical expertise and to strengthen their training processes in the conduct of FFS. A major
partnership with SEARICE is the development and implementation of pilot FFS on plant genetics and
seed rehabilitation in rice and corn, FFS in organic sugarcane and FFS in corn production among rebelreturnees in Mindanao.
KASAKALIKASAN has provided support to the Organic Movement in the Philippines leading to the
development of the Philippine Standard for Organic Agriculture. The Good Agricultural Practices or GAP
Standards for corn as well as for fruits and vegetables have been developed and will be part of FFS
training curricula.

Innovations:
Aware that IPM concepts and practices continue to evolve towards sustainable agriculture,
KASAKALIKASAN currently engages in the following development activities:

IPM for secondary and migrant pests, especially the Malayan black bug,
stemborers and brown plant hopper in rice, corn lanthopper, scale insects in
fruit trees, leaf beetle in coconuts, golden apple snails and rats in
collaboration with the Bureau of Plant Industry and the National Crop
Protection Center at the University of the Philippines in Los Baos;

FFS on Organic Vegetable Production including Processing Tomato with the

Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development,
the FAO Regional Vegetable IPM Program and the National Food
Corporation;

FFS on Good Agricultural Practices in Corn and Fruits and Vegetables with
the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards and local
governments;

FFSs on backyard livestock production and aquaculture with the Bureau of

Animal Industry and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources;

FFSs on community-based social reforestation with the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources and the Japanese International
Cooperation Agency;

FFS for Rural Entrepreneurship in Agrarian Reform Centers with the

Department of Agrarian Reform;

Field Schools for Elementary and Secondary Schools on Climate Change,

Biodiversity and Child Nutrition with the Department of Education and local
governments;

Expansion of the ASEAN IPM Knowledge Network to include Country Hubs in

China, Korea and Japan to facilitate the sharing of IPM practices and
processes among ASEAN+3 member countries

Addressing the emerging challenges to food security, KASAKALIKASAN is undertaking a major venture
towards the development and promotion of an integrated form of village-based participatory research and
extension addressing the whole-farm production system, including the sustainability of natural resources
and the protection of the environment - the transformation of the FFS into the Barangay Food Security
Volunteers or BFSV. The BFSV is composed of FFS farmer graduates tasked with the responsibilities of
taking care of food, community and the environment. The BFSV is operationalized through the
establishment of village or barangay-based (1) Food Security Monitoring Teams, (2) Model Farms and
Processing Centers, (3) Barangay Seed Nurseries, (4) Bantay Peste Brigades, (5) Barangay Waste
Recycling Facilities, (6) Barangay Bio-con Production Centers, and (7) Farmer-led PAR Teckno-Kliniks.