Strengthening the Enabling Environment for the Development and Uptake of Modern Agricultural Biotechnology (SEED Project) Science Phase
Background
The Philippines has been a regional leader in modern agricultural biotechnology for over two decades, advancing the adoption of GM crops such as Bt corn, Golden Rice, Bt eggplant, and Bt cotton, supported by a robust biosafety regulatory framework. Despite these advances, local adoption remains uneven due to misinformation, misconceptions, and restrictive local policies that limit access to biotechnology innovations in some provinces in the country.
Recognizing the need to strengthen science-based decision-making among local stakeholders, SEARCA, through its Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Knowledge Platform and building on the gains of the Bridging and Upgrading the Mechanisms and Pathways for the Uptake of Biotech (BUMP UP Biotech) Project, is implementing the SEED Project to foster a more enabling environment for the responsible development and uptake of modern agricultural biotechnology.
The SEED Project is a three-year initiative of SEARCA, funded by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) through the DA Biotechnology Program Office, that aims to promote the responsible adoption of modern agricultural biotechnology in the Philippines, particularly in Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, and Agusan del Norte, to address key barriers such as misinformation, restrictive policies, limited institutional capacity, and weak stakeholder engagement.
Implemented through a Science–Policy–Practice pathway, the project progresses from awareness-building and evidence generation (Year 1: Science Phase) to policy engagement and alliance building (Year 2: Policy Phase), and ultimately, farmer readiness and institutional adoption (Year 3: Practice Phase). Through its four components: Capitalize, Capacitate, Catalyze, and Communicate, the project seeks to strengthen stakeholder collaboration, enhance local capacities, empower farmers, and improve science-based communication, ultimately contributing to improved agricultural productivity, food security, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods.
Objectives
The SEED project aims to strengthen science-based mechanisms and inclusive pathways for biotechnology adoption in Agusan del Norte, Oriental Mindoro, and Negros Occidental. Specifically, it seeks to:
- Capitalize on multisectoral expertise to support responsible biotechnology uptake.
- Capacitate provincial government units (PGUs) to apply scientific evidence in policy and decision-making.
- Catalyze farmer adoption through training, peer learning, and access to quality inputs.
- Communicate biotechnology benefits through accurate and inclusive engagement.
Components
| Component 1 | Capitalize: Leverages insights from academia, industry, and government to support evidence-based strategies and responsible biotechnology adoption. |
| Component 2 | Capacitate: Strengthens the capacity of provincial government units (PGUs) to lead and sustain biotechnology initiatives through knowledge and institutional support. |
| Component 3 | Catalyze: Empowers smallholder farmers through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and access to biotechnology information and innovations. |
| Component 4 | Communicate: Promotes public understanding of biotechnology through science-based communication, media engagement, and misinformation management. |
Expected Outputs
In Year 1: Science Phase, the SEED Project is expected to produce the following outputs:
Component 1
- One (1) comprehensive Landscape Analysis Report on modern agricultural biotechnology
- Three (3) Stakeholder Consultations and Policy Dialogues conducted (one per target province)
Component 2
- One (1) Biotechnology Training Module for Public Servants translated into Tagalog, Hiligaynon, and Bisaya
- Rollout of the Biotechnology Training Module for Public Servants in project's target sites
Component 3
- Four (4) Knowledge Materials on Agricultural Biotechnology (e.g., policy brief/agriculture R&D note and fact sheets/brochures)
- One (1) Benchmarking and Farmer-to-Farmer Knowledge Sharing Activity back-to-back with Training Workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Farming Technologies
Component 4
- One (1) Media Primer Resource Kit on agricultural biotechnology
- One (1) Training Workshop on Biotechnology Communication and Reporting
These outputs are expected to strengthen stakeholder engagement, improve local capacities, support evidence-based policymaking, enhance public understanding of biotechnology, and foster a more enabling environment for the responsible adoption of agricultural biotechnology.
Contact
SEED Project Management Team
Research and Thought Leadership Department, SEARCA
Email: