President of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Dr. Emil Q. Javier, representing the esteemed scientists in the Philippines, reaffirmed their full support to the ongoing research on the fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt eggplant in the country.

Dr. Javier said that the Academy is confident that the Supreme Court will not act rashly but rather consider the scientific side regarding the petition for the writ of kalikasan and writ of continuing mandamus recently filed by a group of NGOs against the conduct of Bt eggplant multi-location field trials.

Dr. Javier added that the filing of the petition is not of national interest, and that the Academy, together with the University of the Philippines and reputable scientists from the local and global community, strongly support agricultural biotechnology. Contrary to the baseless allegations of the petitioners, Bt eggplant is potentially the best environmentally friendly technology for eggplant production, Javier asserts.

The NAST is the highest S&T policy advisory and recognition body of the scientific community in the country.

(First published on Crop Biotech Update (ISAAA Newsletter), http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=9537, May 4, 2012.)