The town council of Bay, Laguna, Philippines unanimously voted and approved the resolution authorizing the field trial of Bt eggplant at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The officials said that the field trial is necessary to assess possible benefits and risks of the genetically engineered vegetable to the farmers. They also noted that the field testing being conducted by UPLB is not synonymous to the mass propagation of Bt eggplant.

Alejandro M. Junsay, one of the municipal councilors who approved the resolution, said that “they are convinced that the field testing is under strict biosafety rules and closely monitored in compliance with government standards for agricultural biotechnology products.” Bay Municipal agriculturist, Alexander Darvin, also endorsed the field trial after considering the time and the procedures it would take prior to commercialization of the vegetable.

Read the story at http://www.bioportfolio.com/news/article/555298/Laguna-Town-Council-Okays-Bt-Eggplant-Trial-A.html.

(First published on Crop Biotech Update (ISAAA Newsletter), http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=7547, March 25, 2011.)