At a time when biotechnology remains one of the most debated frontiers in Philippine agriculture, Filipino scientists and agricultural experts are calling for a simple yet often overlooked principle in policymaking: listen to the farmers.
Dr. Clarisse Gonzalvo, a biotechnology researcher from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), noted that after more than two decades of genetically modified (GM) corn cultivation in the country, one truth has become clear — many smallholder farmers have embraced the technology not because of policy pressure or subsidies, but because of their own experience in the fields.
"When in doubt, listen," Gonzalvo said during a media forum on biotechnology and regulation on Tuesday.
"We've been debating biotechnology for years, but the farmers who plant Bt corn every season already know its benefits. They are the ones who experience it firsthand."
Farmers' experience with Bt corn
Bt corn, the first genetically modified crop approved for commercial planting in the Philippines in 2002, contains a gene from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium that makes it resistant to the Asian corn borer — a pest that has historically wiped out huge portions of harvests.
According to Gonzalvo, who has spent years studying the socioeconomic impact of biotechnology adoption, most corn farmers in Mindanao and Luzon have consistently reported higher yields, lower pesticide use, and better incomes since switching to Bt corn.
Her research under the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) found that Bt corn adopters use up to 70 percent less insecticide and enjoy an average yield increase of 15 to 30 percent per hectare.
"These farmers are not scientists, but they understand results," Gonzalvo said. "They can tell you how their harvest improved, how their pesticide costs went down, how their children can now go to school because they earn more."
Beyond the lab: Trust and livelihood
Gonzalvo remarked that despite misconceptions, many Filipino farmers have developed trust in biotech crops because they see tangible improvements in their livelihoods.
"They don't talk about genes or molecular pathways. They talk about whether their corn survived the pests or if they can buy fertilizer for the next cycle," she explained.
"Their perspective is practical, and it deserves to be at the center of policy discussions."
She added that listening to farmers' lived experiences can bridge the growing gap between scientific institutions and the public — a gap often filled by fear, misinformation, or politicized debate.
"When scientists and policymakers are unsure, the best approach is to go to the people who actually plant and harvest," she said. "They know what works on the ground."
Two decades of regulation and resistance
The Philippines remains the first and only country in Asia to approve the commercial planting of genetically modified corn, but resistance continues to surface, particularly in courtrooms and public forums.
Gonzalvo said these debates are healthy in a democratic society, yet they should be informed by both scientific evidence and social realities.
"Biotechnology in the Philippines has gone through one of the most rigorous regulatory systems in Asia," she noted.
"It's not just about safety studies — it's about compliance, monitoring, and ensuring that farmers and consumers are protected."
She emphasized that the country's biosafety framework involves multiple layers of evaluation, from environmental impact to food and feed safety, all aligned with international standards.
A human story behind the science
For Gonzalvo, biotechnology should not be reduced to a "science versus fear" narrative. At its core, she said, it is a human story — one about farmers trying to secure their livelihoods and feed their families amid climate change, pest outbreaks, and fluctuating commodity prices.
"These are farmers who still wake up at four in the morning to till the land," she said. "They're not part of big agribusinesses. They're smallholders who make decisions based on survival and hope."
In one of her studies in Bukidnon, Gonzalvo recalled interviewing a farmer who said his decision to plant Bt corn was not driven by advertisements or government programs, but by what he saw in his neighbor's field.
"He told me, 'Nakita ko kasi, hindi tinamaan ng uod yung mais ng kapitbahay ko.' (I saw how my neighbor's corn crop was not devoured by pests.) That's how technology spreads — through trust and observation," Gonzalvo recounted.
The call for inclusion and dialogue
As the country revisits its stance on biotechnology amid ongoing legal cases over Malusog Rice and Bt Eggplant, Gonzalvo said it is crucial to include farmers' voices in the conversation.
"We keep hearing from lawyers, scientists, and activists. But where are the farmers in these discussions?" she asked.
"If we truly care about sustainability and food security, we need to engage the people who are most affected by these decisions."
Gonzalvo added that while science provides the evidence base, social listening ensures that biotechnology remains grounded in real human experiences.
"When in doubt, listen," she reiterated. "If we listen carefully, we'll hear the truth that farmers have been trying to tell us for years."
A reminder for policy and public trust
Gonzalvo concluded that the path forward for Philippine biotechnology must combine scientific rigor, transparent regulation, and genuine community engagement.
"Science alone cannot win public trust," she said. "It has to walk hand in hand with empathy and inclusion. Farmers have always been at the heart of agriculture — they should also be at the heart of its future."