Dr. Joebert D. Toledo, the Filipino scientist who heads the Aquaculture Department (AQD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Council (Seafdec), was candid enough. Genetic manipulation, he said, is not yet acceptable to aquaculture production. Ironically, Seafdec has been at the helm of major breakthroughs in aquaculture using biotechnology, if not on genetically modified organisms or GMOs. In fact, Toledo said that Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was amazed when he saw at the AQD center in Tigbuan, Iloilo how they harness the potential of the popular mud crabs. Through biotechnology, Seafdec scientists were able to lessen the mud crabs’ cannibalistic traits and new feeds were formulated for these crustaceans.

Seafdec pushes aquaculture biotechnology in Asean. (2012, February 14). Business Mirrow. Retrieved from http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commod...