Untapped inheritance?

Can Marcos Jr. complete father’s legacy for farmers?

MANILA, Philippines —  On Sept. 11, 1982, his 65th birthday, then president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. unveiled one of the most ambitious scientific projects of his administration: a national biotechnology center at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB).

Funded by the Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Foundation, the center was launched not merely as a research hub, but as a symbol of his deep belief that science and technology were essential to national development.

At the entrance of the building, a plaque still bears his words: “Science and technology are indispensable instruments for national development. No nation in this century can hope to grow and develop without the aid of its scientists and technicians.”

Four decades later, one of the most promising products to emerge from that vision is still waiting to be fully recognized.

It is called Bio N. It is a microbial inoculant developed by Filipino scientists, designed to help farmers grow healthier crops while reducing their dependence on costly synthetic fertilizers. And it may now have a second chance to change Philippine agriculture, with the son of its original champion at the helm of government.

Born of crisis, built on science

The roots of Bio N stretch back to 1979, when Marcos Sr. sought solutions to the global oil crisis and its impact on agriculture. Fertilizer prices were rising, and the Philippines needed to become more self-sufficient in food production.

Working with National Scientist Emil Javier and other agricultural leaders, Marcos pushed for the establishment of a biotechnology program focused on Filipino-led innovations. This led to the creation of BIOTECH, formally known as the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, housed in UPLB.

It was here that microbiologist Dr. Mercedes Garcia and her team discovered a strain of nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Azospirillum in the roots of wild talahib grass. They cultivated it into a powder-form biofertilizer that could convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants.

The result was Bio N – a locally developed input that costs only P500 per kilo and can replace two bags of synthetic urea fertilizer per hectare of rice farm, thereby reducing production costs by at least P3,000 per hectare. In addition, field trials have shown that Bio N can increase rice yields by 15 percent and boost corn harvests by 40 percent.

“This was a breakthrough,” said Javier. “It was exactly the kind of homegrown technology President Marcos Sr. had in mind when he pushed for investments in agricultural science.”

A forgotten innovation

Despite its potential, Bio N did not become widely available. Limited production, low farmer awareness and inconsistent government promotion kept it from reaching the fields where it was most needed.

Many farmers continued to rely on imported fertilizers, even as prices rose and soil conditions worsened.

Javier said the momentum that had been built during Marcos’ time was lost in the decades that followed.

“It was visionary, but it was set aside,” he said. “What could have been a national program became a footnote.”

Revival under way

Recently, efforts to commercialize Bio N have accelerated. Production facilities in Sta. Rosa, Laguna are now operating with modern bioreactors. From March 2023 to June 2024, more than 100 crop nutrition specialists have been deployed to rice-growing provinces to promote Bio N and train farmers.

The results have been promising.

In Talavera, Nueva Ecija, farmer-technician Jerbin Salvador said Bio N helped him cut fertilizer costs and improve crop performance. Other farmers – including hybrid rice grower Arnold Jumaquio, inbred rice farmer Juanito Manuel and tenant farmer Ferdinand de la Cruz – reported similar experiences.

They noticed greener leaves, sturdier stalks, better resistance to pests and fuller grain clusters. They followed the instructions printed on the Bio N packet and saw improvements within a single planting season.

“Mas magaan sa bulsa, mas maganda pa ang palay (Lighter on the pocket, better palay),” said Salavador.

De la Cruz, who farms eight hectares, said the savings helped him send two children to nursing school.

A President’s opportunity

In February 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Tatak Pinoy Act, aimed at promoting Filipino-made innovations across all sectors. For agriculture, Bio N represents a clear example of this vision in action.

“This is truly Tatak Pinoy,” said Dr. Javier. “Technology developed by Filipinos, for Filipino farmers.”

At the Sta. Rosa facility, billions of nitrogen-fixing bacteria are now being produced to help rebuild the country’s tired soils. The science is solid. The production capacity exists. What remains is a strong policy push to bring Bio N to every farm in the country.

That push, advocates say, should come from the very top.

Completing the story

Marcos Jr. has repeatedly spoken about honoring the legacy of his father. Supporting the full-scale rollout of Bio N would be more than a tribute – it would be a strategic move to help farmers lower their costs, reduce the country’s dependence on imported fertilizer and improve food security.

“This is not just about reviving a product,” said Javier. “It’s about completing a vision. It’s about making sure that what was started in 1982 finally reaches its full potential.”

At a time when the country is facing rising food prices, climate instability and growing pressure on agricultural systems, the solution may not lie in foreign technology or billion-peso imports.

It may already exist – developed by Filipino scientists, tested by Filipino farmers and rooted in the legacy of a president who believed that science should serve the people.