RP SHOULD START 'DOUBLY GREEN REVOLUTION' TO ACHIEVE
FOOD SECURITY - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said that agriculture productivity must increase dramatically in order to feed a steadily growing population, and strongly pushed for research and development (R&D) as the solution to our food security problems.

"As food demand rises and the world's farmers struggle to keep up, it's time for a new green revolution. The Green Revolution of the 1970s brought the largest yield increases in all three main food sources - wheat, rice and corn. But that era, the chemical age of agriculture, is now running out of steam. The Green Revolution itself needs to be revolutionized," said Angara.

Angara spoke at the inauguration of the East West Research Center in Lipa City, the country's most advanced horticulture research center specializing in the development of hybrid vegetable seeds.

He added, "apart from increased food production, we should seek a more efficient and ecologically friendly form of food production. Above everything else, we should underline sustainability and environmental protection."

Angara stressed that the key to improving productivity in all sectors, including and especially agriculture, is to step up research and development (R&D) efforts.

"R&D is key to the long-term viability and productivity of agriculture. Biotech and genetics can improve both agricultural productivity and profitability, and at the same time ensure the earth's sustainability," he said.

He encouraged plant breeders to become more innovative to improve both food quality and yield in order to solve today's most critical challenges: the unabated growth of the human population, the shrinking of arable lands due to urbanization, the poor nutritional quality of many food sources, continued environmental degradation, rapid adaptability of pests, and the decline of natural biodiversity in farming regions.