Browse Data and Analysis

The Philippines has been a pioneer within Asia in adopting biotechnology crops. On April 17, 2024, the Court of Appeals (CA) ruling on the Writ of Kalikasan revoked the biosafety permit for commercial propagation of golden rice and directed the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to cease and desist from commercially propagating and conducting activities relating to Bt eggplant.

The Philippines has been a pioneer within Asia in adopting biotechnology crops, and recently approved Bt cotton as the 4th genetically engineered (GE) crop cleared for commercial propagation after corn (2002), rice (2021), and eggplant (2022). The...

On August 24, 2023, the Philippines marked Bt cotton as the 4th genetically engineered crop approved for commercial propagation after corn (2002), rice (2021), and eggplant (2022).

At least 1.25 million poor farmers and 5 million indirect beneficiaries will benefit from Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA), a $39.3-million project approved to foster climate-resilient agriculture (CRA), and develop the Philippine agriculture sector.

Aviation is responsible for more than two percent of all global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Most of this CO2 is emitted when fossil-fuel-derived jet fuel is combusted. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key part of the aviation industry’s plan to reduce carbon emissions.

The Philippines is a regional biotechnology leader and the first country in the world to approve Golden Rice for commercial propagation. The Bt Eggplant biosafety permit was signed on October 17, 2022, allowing commercial propagation. Planting of Golden Rice has started since its approval in 2021, while Bt corn acceptance has grown with more than 600,000 hectares planted in 2021.

On October 18, 2022, The Government of the Philippines marked Bt eggplant as its third genetically engineered crop approved for commercial propagation, following Bt corn and Golden Rice.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) continue to collaborate on the Renewable Energy Program for the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector (REP AFS) to undertake programs aimed at boosting the country’s energy and food security.

On May 19, 2022, the Philippine Department of Agriculture issued Memorandum Circular No. 8, governing the rules and procedures for evaluating new plant breeding techniques.

On February 15, 2022, the Philippines approved the revised Joint Department Circular No. 1 (JDC), streamlining the regulatory policy governing plant biotechnology. Signed by five Department Secretaries, the document was published in two newspapers on March 8, 2022, and will go into effect 15 days later.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon execute a $10 Million fuel subsidy program for farmers and fishers to reduce production costs (PhP500 Million).

The Philippines is a regional biotechnology leader, highlighted by its passage in 2021 of Golden Rice for commercial propagation and Bt eggplant for direct use.