DA to tap services of American biotech firm in battle against mango pests
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keen on tapping the services of Sun & Earth Microbiology LLC, a company based in Florida, to address pest infestation in local mangoes in the country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, that the DA expressed interest in the US-based biotechnology to mitigate the cecid fly outbreak which would lead to better production and quality exports of mangoes.
According to the DA, cecid flies infest over 80 percent of mangoes during their flowering stage. Mangoes that are contaminated by these pests could be seen with brown scab-like spots around the fruit.
The local agriculture sector decided to go with Florida’s biotech since they have already addressed this problem in Venezuela, Columbia, and Vietnam through their biological microbes and control agents which paralyze the insects.
The target area for testing will be set in Palawan, where over 100,000 hectares of mango production have been affected by the flies.
Tiu Laurel also shared that the Sun & Earth Chief Executive Officer Guillermo William Vazquez was able to assist in controlling fusarium in bananas, a fungus that wilts and discolors plants.
Because of this, the DA will also seek help in resuming fusarium mitigation that is commonly found in bananas, abacas, and coconut trees. These products are the major agricultural exports of the Philippines.
Furthermore, with the recent rice enhancement programs and initiatives, the DA chief will also explore the American company's other products in destroying rice bugs.
Despite the hopeful plans for collaboration in the future, these anti-pest products will need to comply with certain regulations to ensure safety in usage, especially since these materials will be used on fruits and other consumed commodities.
DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro has yet to coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the clearances for Sun & Earth’s customized products.