GENETICALLY MODIFIED TILAPIA, ANYONE?

GENETICALLY MODIFIED TILAPIA, ANYONE?

I have mixed feelings about genetically modified (GMO) foods. While I am generally wary of them, I can also see the potential benefits they offer, particularly in providing affordable food for the poor. This is especially relevant in the case of grains and fish, where food security is a growing concern.

One example is tilapia, a fish species that holds significant promise for both food security and livelihood opportunities for fish farmers. Due to climate change, it has become increasingly dangerous for small artisanal fishermen to venture out into the ocean in search of fish. Additionally, global warming has affected fish breeding patterns, leading to declining fish stocks. These challenges make it more practical for fishermen to transition into fish farming, and GMO tilapia presents an option that could be both profitable and sustainable.

GMO tilapia can be cultivated in fish cages in lakes, rivers, and coves, or grown in controlled environments such as Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). These farming methods ensure consistent supply, better control over water quality, and reduced pressure on wild fish populations. While my reservations about GMOs persist, I find myself more inclined to support GMO tilapia—if government agencies could ensure its safety for human consumption through rigorous oversight and regulation. To add to that, the government should study the impact of tilapia into the environment, because tilapia is an invasive species.

Despite its potential, the adoption of GMO tilapia by fish farmers has been slow, likely due to concerns over its safety and public perception of genetically modified foods. This is where government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) should step in to educate and promote responsible use of this technology.

Initiatives such as the Villar SIPAG Farm School in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, provide valuable technology demonstrations on tilapia culture. This project, in collaboration with the DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) and the BFAR National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR-NFFTC), focuses on using quality strains and extruded floating feeds (EEF) to enhance tilapia growth. Successful harvests of Nile and Red tilapia strains have demonstrated improved growth rates and cost efficiency, providing an encouraging outlook for fish farmers.

Furthermore, the Villar SIPAG Urban Farm School in Bacoor, Cavite, offers training in urban farming and gardening techniques, promoting modern farming practices. These farm schools provide free training programs, empowering local farmers with knowledge and hands-on experience in sustainable food production.

So, is GMO tilapia safe to eat? According to regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), GMO foods, including GMO tilapia, undergo extensive safety assessments before approval. Studies indicate that GMO tilapia is no more harmful than its non-GMO counterpart, and it provides added benefits such as disease resistance and improved nutritional content.

In the Philippines, GMO regulation is handled by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Health (DOH). The Joint Department Circular No. 1, Series of 2021, outlines rules and regulations for the research, development, handling, and use of GMOs, ensuring a streamlined and rigorous approval process. The country is also a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which promotes transparency and public participation in GMO-related decisions.

While the scientific consensus supports the safety of GMO tilapia, some consumers remain skeptical due to personal and ethical concerns. As with any food product, the choice to consume GMO tilapia should be left to individual consumers, provided they are given full transparency regarding its production and safety standards. Ultimately, if GMO tilapia can contribute to food security and provide stable livelihoods for fish farmers, it deserves serious consideration—so long as it is regulated responsibly and remains a safe option for public consumption. Beyond the issue of food security, the government must weigh and evaluate the impact of an invasive species like tilapia. Could it be doing more harm than good. it may be good that we are eating tilapia, but it may be bad that tilapia is eating the young of endemic and native fish species to their extinction. 

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

03-27-2025

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES?

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES? When we talk about the crime rate in the Philippines, we often assume that the figures we see are accurate reflections of reality. But have we ever paused to ask—how exactly is the crime rate computed? Where does this data come from, and how reliable is it? The computation of the crime rate in the Philippines is officially handled by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The formula itself is straightforward: Crime Rate = (Total Reported Crimes / Total Population) x 100,000 This simple equation gives us the number of crimes per 100,000 people, allowing for fair comparison across regions and time periods. However, the reality behind these numbers is more complex than it appears. Data from the Ground The foundation of our national crime rate is empirical data collected at the grassroots level—from individual police stations scattered across the country. Every reported crime is logged in local police blotters, forming the buil...
Read more

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS Dear Mr. President: May I ask who is going to be the arbiter or referee whenever there are overlaps in functions between two or more government agencies? I imagine that there would be no problem if these agencies would just cooperate and collaborate with each other, but what if they are unable to settle their differences and they would just end up throwing blame at each other or finger pointing at each other? Allow me to cite some examples. Who is supposed to take the lead in waste to energy projects? Is it supposed to be the DENR that is supposed to handle waste? Or is it supposed to be the DOE that is supposed to handle energy generation? Or is it supposed to be the DILG since it is the one that could direct or influence the waste to energy projects of LGUs? Who is supposed to take the lead in producing and promoting the use of biofuels? Is it supposed to be the DA, since the production of biofuels is supposed to be all about planting biofuel ...
Read more

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES As it is supposed to be, anyone in the Philippines should be able to dial 911, and a telephone operator should be able to dispatch fire, rescue, ambulance and police (FRAP) units as soon as possible, based on acceptable response times. I invented the FRAP acronym for easy recall, and I hope it sticks, if there is no other alternative. Unfortunately, due to a mixture of technical and political reasons, the Philippines has not adopted 911 as a national number, because some LGUs would rather use their own three-digit numbers such as 117 and 168. I actually proposed a technical solution to that problem, but it was not adopted either. For whatever it is worth, my solution is to install a call forwarding system that could route all calls to a central operator, regardless of what number is dialed. It is very sad for me to know that up to now, even if our country is already over one hundred years old, there are still many LGUs that do not have fire trucks. it ...
Read more