Objective of conference: assessment of the state

of SME Education in relation to Philippine

competitiveness on the global stage

Biotechnology R & D
Defining the scope of biotechnology

in the Philippines
Agricultural Biotech R & D in the
Philippines

Biotech Education
Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, PhD
Member, National Academy of Science & Technology

Status and prospects of
Research Professor, Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop commercialization
Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University of the
Philippines Los Baños; email: emtmendoza@nast.ph
Constraints and major concerns and
addressing them
COMSTE Conference August 14, 2008

Scope: processes &

products of biotechnology

Genetic engineering Genetic engineering

Modern

of animals of plants
Recombinant
microorganisms
Recombinant diagnostics,
DNA & protein markers
Cell culture
Plant tissue culture
Classical

We define biotechnology---as any biology- Biofertilizers,

biological nitrogen
based technology which uses organisms or fixation, fermentation

their parts to make or modify products, or

improve plants, animals and microorganisms Scope of Biotechnology

Bioindustry--- biotechnology based Bioindustry--- biotechnology

industry
• One of the fastest growing industry sectors
worldwide, with annual growth of >20%
• 1500 biotech companies in North America,
1200 in Europe
• Comprise of small companies, only 10%
employ more than 250 people
• Health products (therapeutic
pharmaceuticals, vaccines), diagnostics,
bioagriculture, industrial enzymes etc)
based industry
• “includes companies involved in the
research, development, and manufacture of
materials such as cell cultures, catalysts,
genetic materials, immune response
materials, biochemicals, enzymes, proteins
and equipment used in biological and
genetic research on humans, plants and
animals.”
• Includes service organizations that perform
consulting, testing, processing and storage
of such products.

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Biotech R & D in the Philippines Biotech R & D in the Philippines

Mostly based in
Universities
Use of biotech tools in crop and

Government
Research Institutes animal breeding or production
(PhilRice, Philippine
Coconut Authority,
Philippine Carabao
Center)

Private (St. Luke’s)

Biotech R & D in the Philippines Biotech R & D in the Philippines

and products

Biopesticides

Bt formulations, biological control
agents--- Diadegma and Cotesia
against vegetable pests and
Trichogramma against corn and
sugarcane pests

Biofertilizers

Mycogroe, Bio N, MykoVam, NitroPlus
(Biotech)

Vital N (Arnichem, private)
and products

Animal health products

Diagnostics

Salmonella, E. coli, red tide

Vaccines against

hemorrhagic septicemia due to
Pasteurella multocida for cattle and
carabao

Fowl cholera for poultry

Biotech R & D in the Philippines Biotech R & D in the Philippines

and products and products

Tissue Culture of
Tissue culture of orchids at UP CA
plants
1960s
Embryo culture of
makapuno

Pioneered by Dr. Prof. Helen
Valmayor
Emerita de
Guzman, UPCA
1960s

Improved by DA
Scientist Linda
Rillo, PCA 1990s

2
 Biotech R & D in the Philippines Home grown biotech products
and products and products

Micropropagation of banana
Orchids
early 1980s, IPB CA UPLB
Banana
Davao Musatech (Stanfilco), largest in the


world; produces 23 M seedlings per year

Dolefil has capacity to produce 6 M per
year

Lapanday

Secura Plant Genetics
Dr. Ramon C. Barba
Makapuno
Prof. Lilian F. Pateña
Sugarcane--disease free cane seeds
Dr. Olivia P. Damasco distributed to growers

Biotech R & D in the Philippines Biotech R & D in the Philippines

and products and products

Sex reversal technology for tilapia 2000s
Improving rate of reproduction
Onset of Tilapia Industry and breeds of carabao
triggered by the sex
reversal technology in
1976 by RD Guerrero III
MOET Multiple
Ovulation-
Embryo transfer
http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/philip
pines/Mar24_02.jpg
Twin calves
Improved tilapia of Murrah
•CLSU Freshwater Aquaculture Center breed from
with University of Wales Swansea embryo
•National Freshwater Fisheries Tech transfer
Center of BFAR
DA Philippine Carabao Center, Nueva Ecija

Biotech R & D in the Philippines

and products Banana var Lakatan
Resistant to bunchy top
Use of molecular markers in plant breeding virus through gamma

For marker-aided breeding irradiation of tissue

PHILRICE’s NSICRc142 or Tubigan 7 cultured shoot tips
resistant to bacterial leaf blight (BLB) Total irradiated plants 6,012

NSIC Rc154 After greenhouse 114

For studying genetic diversity of plants, After field 64
microorganisms, insect pests
Resistant plants 1.06%

For identification of crop varieties, hybrids
(IPB CA UPLB) Funded by IAEA, IPB CA UPLB,
PCARRD

Damasco et al, 2006

3
 Case study:
Biotech R & D in the Philippines Crop Science Historically, this is how we have
and products (ongoing) Cluster-IPB transferred our technologies
technologies
Use of genetic engineering or recombinant
DNA tools in crop breeding to develop technologies To individuals,

Delayed ripening trait in papaya Seeds companies etc.

Papaya ringspot virus resistance in papaya Tissue culture

Shoot and fruit borer resistance in eggplant technologies
(Bt eggplant) •Orchids
Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop Science •Makapuno
Cluster, CA UPLB
•Banana

More recently we have learned of More recently we have learned of

another more profitable way! another more profitable way!

technologies technologies

•5 Inbred lines of maize, licensed to Ayala in •Bio N of UPLB Biotech is licensed to private
1995 for PhP 2.32 M companies through TRC
•Sinta papaya hybrid licensed to East West
Seeds at 7% royalty of gross sales, from
2005-2007, royalty amounted to PhP1.822 M

The Silicon Valley Model: Have there been What is the promise of commercialization of
companies spun off from schools? research project results?

Technologies
Three UPLB Technologies were finalists the past

from Startup three PESO (Philippine Emerging Startup Open)
Challenges where two won the Grand Prize
Universities Companies
Enhanced Solo (Papaya with long shelf life and
ring spot virus resistance) (Grand Prize 2005) (IPB
CA UPLB)
At UPLB
SNAP Nutrients (Finalist 2006) (IPB CA UPLB)

BIO N (Grand Prize 2007 BIOTECH)
•STEMP Biotech Inc. was registered in 2007;
was 2005 Grand Prize Winner of PESO
Animal vaccines from BIOTECH
Challenge for Enhanced Solo.
Fowl Cholera Vaccine

Enzymes for improving animal feeds

Mannanase

4
 Our product---
Future biotech product
Transgenic
papaya with
delayed ripening
trait
DA Biotech-EMERGE USAID- ACIAR-DOST-IPB-UPLB
What is the promise of commercialization of
research project results?

Two more promising technologies from IPB

Bunchy top virus resistant banana var
Lakatan for licensing variety to companies
that produce Lakatan for export and local
markets

Papaya ringspot virus resistant papaya for
licensing as parental line to local and
foreign companies
Academic programs that support the
biotechnology sector

BS, MS and PhD Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology (MBB), UP Diliman, since 1987

MS MBB (1999), PhD MBB (2002), UPLB

BS Biotech (BS Bioengineering) (2003),
Mapua Institute of Technology

Proposed BS Agricultural Biotechnology at
UPLB College of Agriculture

Allied programs

Need to introduce Biotechnology as a GE
course
Enhanced Solo
We are introducing PRSV resistance to our
long shelf life transgenic papaya at IPB
Backcross 3 x
transgenic papaya
PRSV resistant Backcross 3: Carica papaya x
Vasconcellea quercifolia
DA Biotech-EMERGE USAID- ACIAR-DOST-IPB-UPLB
Can globally competitive industries possibly
be built around their research centers?

The UPLB Science Park is presently being
strengthened.

There are efforts to systematize the
evaluation of the commercialization potential
of UPLB technologies.

Entrepreneurship is now a key program of the
UPLB College of Economics and
Management

At the College of Agriculture,
entrepreneurship is being emphasized.

Bioentrepreneurship course is offered to MBB
and other students.
Major Concerns

Lack of scientists

Lack of scientific business managers

Lack of strong research base

Low R & D expenditures

Traditional education systems which do not
foster innovative and creative thinking

Lack of appreciation or understanding of
intellectual property rights

Lack of venture capital

Weak industry-academe-govt liaisons
Tecson-Mendoza 2002, Tang 2003, Arroyo 2005,
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 23% 15%
NCR
Lack of scientists In the Philippines 6%
Region IV
Region III
Others
56%

The Philippines has 157 scientists and
Gene cloning, mapping, fingerprinting 11.5%
microbial biotechnology 6
engineers (S & E) per million population genetic engineering 4
engaged in R&D molecular markers 3

Japan had the highest number, with 4,909 others 7.5

tissue culture (plant) 14
S&Es per million population engaged in R&D. microbiology 10.5
Russia had 3,801 S & Es while the US had biofertilizer 5.5
3,676 S&Es per million population enzymes 4
fermentation 4
reproductive biotechniques 3.5
others 24.7
From: National Science and
Total number, 317
Technology Plan 2002-2020
Faylon et al, 2006

Addressing: Lack of strong

Addressing: Lack of scientists
research base

Government Scholarship programs
Only four or five Biotech capable-institutions

UPLB (Biotech, IPB-CSC, IBS)

DOST (SEI, PCASTRD), DA,CHED

UP Diliman

Training abroad
PhilRice

BS, MS, PhD programs in Molecular Biology
St. Luke’s
and Biotechnology, or Biotechnology and
UP Manila

allied programs locally available
Constraints

If we can only keep the ones we graduate
and those sent abroad for advanced degrees!

Need to address brain drain

Cannot recruit new R & D personnel

Heavy load of teaching

Low salaries of researchers in UP System

Reduction in number of trained personnel

Retirement, going abroad

Addressing: Lack of scientific Addressing: Lack of strong

business managers

Increased promotion of entrepreneurship

University-wide and national competitions

Private sector and govt initiatives

GO Negosyo, PESO, Hybridigm, SMART, etc

Offering of entrepreneurship courses

BS level---in the UPLB College of Agriculture, a
required course in BS FT, and will be required in
other CA curricular programs and in BS
Agricultural Biotechnology

Bioentrepreneurship course in MBB program at
UPLB

More interaction between the technology
developers and experts in business side
research base

Strengthen existing ones and build up more research
bases where there are pockets of strength

E.g. SEAFDEC, beautiful buildings and equipment, few
researchers

Retooling

Recruitment of qualified staff

More conducive environment for research including
inspiring leadership

Do not appoint young PhDs to administrative
positions!

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Addressing: Low R & D expenditures

PhP 180 M from 2003-2006

Bigger budgets promised

DA Sec. A. Yap talks of PhP500 M to 1 B budget
for biotech from 2007 to 2010

UP Diliman College of Science obtained a PhP
500 M grant in 2006 released through DOST

Constraints

Inability to absorb released money

Slow process of grant evaluation and release

Highly bureaucratic and expensive purchasing
system in government
Addressing: Lack of appreciation or
understanding of intellectual property
rights

Continuous promotion through seminars,
lectures

Intellectual Property Research and Training
Institute (IPRTI) established by the
Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the
Philippines as its training arm

Part of the course “Biotechnology and
Society” in the UPLB MBB program

Included in the GE course on biotechnology

Pro Filipino approach to IP
Addressing: Weak industry-academe-
govt liaisons

More interactions among Industry-Academe-
Government

Biotechnology Industry Cluster activities

Techno-Entrepreneur Promotions

Building a strong technology
commercialization office in university
Addressing: Traditional education
systems do not foster innovative and
creative thinking

NAST is promoting the building of a culture of
science among our people

Strategies

strategic change in science education in
elementary schools which involves discovery- and
inquiry-based method of teaching;

Increasing support for young talent and genius;
and

Strengthening institutions of research and
scholarship.

Theme of 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of NAST
Addressing: Lack of venture capital

Seed venture fund being initiated by Dr. Vic Ilag,
COO, Patrys (www.patrys.com) Australia

Narra Venture Capital (www.narravc.com) Paco
Sandejas

In Malaysia

Malaysian govt established Malaysian Management
Venture Capital, with initial RM 500M and four startups
granted RM56 M

In Thailand

VNET Venture Capital and One Asset Management
Limited,

In Singapore

Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) HAS
US$600 M fund for investments
To move bioindustry: Biotechnology
Industry Cluster established by EDC

Mid 2005, Biotechnology Cluster was
constituted under the Export Development
Council

Develop Biotech sector as an export earner
2007-2010

Focus on

Agri-biotechnology

Health Bio-industry

Incentives for industry players not clear
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 Objective of conference: assessment of the state
Targets: TO INCREASE of SME Education in relation to Philippine
competitiveness on the global stage

Number of high caliber scientists
Defining the scope of biotechnology

Number of commercializable biotech
Agricultural Biotech R & D in the
products Philippines

PhP generated by biotech products
Biotech Education
annually

Status and prospects of

Number of people employed directly by commercialization
biotech industries

Constraints and major concerns and

Biotech companies in the Philippines addressing them