Biotech in Thailand?

Are more international produce suppliers ready to adopt biotech fruit and vegetables? From a recent USDA FAS report:

FAS/Bangkok, in cooperation with the State Department and the Biotechnology Alliance Association conducted a series of seminars titled, “Crisis and Solution: The Problem of Papaya Ring Spot Virus in Papaya Exporting and Productions” in Khon Kaen, Nakhonpathom, and Bangkok. The seminars increased awareness and support for biotechnology among Thai stakeholders by discussing global commercialization of biotech crops, Thailand’s problems with the papaya ring spot virus (PSRV), and public communication for biotechnology. More than 200 participants attended the three seminars, including private and commercial papaya producers, media reporters, consumers, papaya processors, and academics. As part of the
seminars, FAS/Bangkok invited a Hawaiian biotech papaya producer, Ken Kamiya, to speak to Thai producers pragmatically about the risks of not adopting biotech, or “rainbow,” papaya when faced with PRSV. Mr. Kamiya who has farmed for nearly 40 years, presented an overview of the papaya market in Hawaii, and specifically how the PRSV nearly destroyed the Hawaiian papaya industry until “rainbow” papaya was introduced in 1998. As a result of “rainbow” papaya’s introduction, producers were able to eliminate PRSV from their fields. Currently, about 95 percent of papaya production in Hawaii is crossed with “rainbow” papaya, and there has not been a single complaint or health related incident among consumers. Furthermore, crossing the “rainbow” line with existing varieties created hybrid vigor, an enhancement in plants nutrition, flavor, and overall health associated with the introduction of new genetics to older plants. Mr. Kamiya’s presentation was well received by the Thai participants, who often posed questions concerning the biosafety and marketability of producing biotech papaya. Several producers and processors inquired about the Hawaiian papaya industry’s experience with getting biotech papaya to Japan. Currently, the U.S. is seeking approval for shipping “rainbow” papaya to Japan and is in the risk assessment process. Non-biotech papaya produced in Hawaii is eligible for export to Japan. On biosafety concerns, Mr. Kamiya stressed that Hawaii has no problem with crosscontamination
with non-biotech papaya as producers apply USDA guidelines on the use of perimeters to mitigate papaya pollen from reaching other crops. Over the course of the week, several media outlets interviewed Mr. Kamiya, including newspaper, radio, and television interviews. The tone of the interviews was positive, with reporters inquiring about Mr. Kamiya’s experience in growing biotech papaya, consumer reaction, marketability, and what management practices are used on-farm. None of the participants or media interviews raised objections to the use of biotech papaya in combating PRSV. Rather, Thai stakeholders were primarily concerned with management practices, consumer reaction, and fruit quality compared with non-biotech papaya. According to sources from within the Thai Ministry of Agriculture, papaya production in some areas of the Northeast is 100 percent infected with PSRV. Plants infected with the disease face stunted growth, lower productivity, and malformed fruit. Although aphids are the primary vector for the disease, herbicide and pesticide has proven unsuccessful in warding off the disease. Genetic resistance has been the only proven method to ward off PSRV.