Biotechnology R

Biotechnology R & D in the Philippines

Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, PhDMember, National Academy of Science & TechnologyResearch Professor, Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop

Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños; email: [email protected]

COMSTE Conference August 14, 2008

Objective of conference: assessment of the state of SME Education in relation to Philippine competitiveness on the global stage

Defining the scope of biotechnology Agricultural Biotech R & D in the

Philippines Biotech Education Status and prospects of

commercialization Constraints and major concerns and

addressing them

We define biotechnology---as any biology-based technology which uses organisms or their parts to make or modify products, or improve plants, animals and microorganisms

Scope of Biotechnology

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Biofertilizers, biological nitrogen fixation, fermentation

Plant tissue culture

Cell culture

Recombinant diagnostics, DNA & protein markers

Recombinant microorganisms

Genetic engineering of animals

Genetic engineering of plants

Scope: processes & products of biotechnology

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Genetics Biochemistry

MicrobiologyEngineering & computer science

medicine agriculture & forestry

environment industry

Other traditional disciplines

Mole-cular biology

• 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)

Bioindustry--- biotechnology 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.

Bioindustry--- biotechnology based industry

Biotech R & D in the Philippines

Mostly based in Universities

Government Research Institutes (PhilRice, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Carabao Center)

Private (St. Luke’s)

Biotech R & D in the Philippines

Use of biotech tools in crop and animal breeding or production

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)


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


Tissue Culture of plants

Embryo culture of makapuno Pioneered by Dr.

Emerita de Guzman, UPCA 1960s

Improved by DA Scientist Linda Rillo, PCA 1990s


Tissue culture of orchids at UP CA 1960s

Prof. Helen Valmayor

Micropropagation of banana early 1980s, IPB CA UPLB


Dr. Ramon C. Barba

Prof. Lilian F. Pateña

Dr. Olivia P. Damasco

Home grown biotech products and products

Orchids 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

Makapuno Sugarcane--disease free cane seeds

distributed to growers


Sex reversal technology for tilapia

http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/philippines/Mar24_02.jpg

Onset of Tilapia Industry triggered by the sex reversal technology in 1976 by RD Guerrero II I

Improved tilapia

•CLSU Freshwater Aquaculture Center with University of Wales Swansea

•National Freshwater Fisheries Tech Center of BFAR


MOET Multiple Ovulation-Embryo transfer

Twin calves of Murrah breed f rom embryo transfer

DA Philippine Carabao Center, Nueva Ecija

Improving rate of reproduction and breeds of carabao

2000s


Use of molecular markers in plant breeding For marker-aided breeding

PHILRICE’s NSICRc142 or Tubigan 7 resistant to bacterial leaf blight (BLB)

NSIC Rc154 For studying genetic diversity of plants,

microorganisms, insect pests For identification of crop varieties, hybrids

(IPB CA UPLB)

Biotech R & D in the Philippines and products (ongoing)

Use of genetic engineering or recombinant DNA tools in crop breeding to develop

Delayed ripening trait in papaya Papaya ringspot virus resistance in papaya Shoot and fruit borer resistance in eggplant

(Bt eggplant)

Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop Science Cluster, CA UPLB

How were these technologies transferred to the private sector?

Historically, this is how we have transferred our technologies

Seeds

Tissue culture technologies

•Orchids

•Makapuno

•Banana

Case study: Crop Science Cluster-IPB technologies

technologies To individuals, companies etc.

More recently we have learned of another more profitable way!

technologies

•5 Inbred lines of maize, licensed to Ayala in 1995 for PhP 2.32 M

•Sinta papaya hybrid licensed to East West Seeds at 7% royalty of gross sales, from 2005-2007, royalty amounted to PhP1.822 M

More recently we have learned of another more profitable way!

technologies

•Bio N of UPLB Biotech is licensed to private companies through TRC

The Silicon Valley Model: Have there been companies spun off from schools?

Startup Companies

Technologies from Universities

At UPLB

•STEMP Biotech Inc. was registered in 2007; was 2005 Grand Prize Winner of PESO Challenge for Enhanced Solo.

What is the promise of commercialization of research project results?

Three UPLB Technologies were finalists the past three PESO (Philippine Emerging Startup Open) Challenges where two won the Grand Prize Enhanced Solo (Papaya with long shelf life and ring

spot virus resistance) (Grand Prize 2005) (IPB CA UPLB)

SNAP Nutrients (Finalist 2006) (IPB CA UPLB) BIO N (Grand Prize 2007 BIOTECH)

Animal vaccines from BIOTECH Fowl Cholera Vaccine

Enzymes for improving animal feeds Mannanase

DA Biotech-EMERGE USAID- ACIAR-DOST-IPB-UPLB

Our product---Transgenic papaya with delayed ripening trait

DA Biotech-EMERGE USAID- ACIAR-DOST-IPB-UPLB

Future biotech productEnhanced 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

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

Damasco et al, 2006

Total irradiated plants 6,012

After greenhouse 114

After field 64

Resistant plants 1.06%

Banana var Lakatan

Resistant to bunchy top virus through gamma irradiation of tissue cultured shoot tips

Funded by IAEA, IPB CA UPLB, PCARRD

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.

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 Need Funds to upgrade laboratories and for

research grants for students

Strengths

(Many) Policies in place Strong and working biosafety system Manpower

Small (group) but tenacious and dedicated

Pockets of strength in facilities and resources

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,

The Philippines has 157 scientists and engineers (S & E) per million population engaged in R&D

Japan had the highest number, with 4,909 S&Es per million population engaged in R&D. Russia had 3,801 S & Es while the US had 3,676 S&Es per million population

Lack of scientists

From: National Science and Technology Plan 2002-2020

In the Philippines

Gene cloning, mapping, fingerprinting11.5% microbial biotechnology 6 genetic engineering 4 molecular markers 3 others 7.5

tissue culture (plant) 14 microbiology 10.5 biofertilizer 5.5 enzymes 4 fermentation 4 reproductive biotechniques 3.5 others 24.7

Total number, 317

Faylon et al, 2006

15%

56%

6%

23%NCRRegion IVRegion IIIOthers

Addressing: Lack of scientists

Government Scholarship programs DOST (SEI, PCASTRD), DA,CHED Training abroad

BS, MS, PhD programs in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, or Biotechnology and allied programs locally available

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

Need to address brain drain

Addressing: Lack of strong research base Only four or five Biotech capable-institutions

UPLB (Biotech, IPB-CSC, IBS) UP Diliman PhilRice St. Luke’s UP Manila

Constraints 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 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

Addressing: Lack of strong 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!

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: 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 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: 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

Addressing: Weak industry-academe-government linkages

More interactions among Industry-Academe-Government

Promote Biotechnology Industry Cluster activities

Promote Techno-Entrepreneur activities Build a strong technology commercialization

office in university Strengthen science parks near selected

Universities and research institutes

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

Targets: TO INCREASE

Number of high caliber scientists Number of commercializable biotech

products PhP generated by biotech products

annually Number of biotech companies in the

Philippines Number of people employed directly by

biotech industries

Objective of conference: assessment of the state of SME Education in relation to Philippine competitiveness on the global stage

Defining the scope of biotechnology Agricultural Biotech R & D in the

Philippines Biotech Education Status and prospects of

commercialization Constraints and major concerns and

addressing them