Aligned with the goal of sustaining the country’s biodiversity, an event in Valencia City, Bukidnon (Philippines) was held to promote the use of chemical-free and organic tools to improve plant growth production.
Titled, Biofertilizer and Biopesticide Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA), the event featured technologies that are accepted under organic agriculture and can contribute to the sustainability of the country’s biodiversity. The technologies, called biofertilizers and biopesticides, uses beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that help promote plant growth and production.
Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services, delivered the message of Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director (Image credit: Gian Carlo D. Camacho, Applied Communication Division (ACD), PCAARRD)
The event was held November 11 to 13, 2019 at Robinson’s Place, Valencia City, Bukidnon. The technologies featured are funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and its Consortia in Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Caraga, Central Visayas, and Ilocos regions.
“PCAARRD has invested more than ₱46 million in R&D to develop biofertilizers and biopesticides,” said PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, in a message read by Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services during the opening program.
The exhibit of the Biofertilizer and Biopesticide FIESTA at Robinson’s Place Valencia City, Bukidnon (Image credit: Gian Carlo D. Camacho, ACD, PCAARRD)
Among these investments, Ebora said, include the development of MykoPlus, a microbial inoculant that contains beneficial bacteria that enhance crop growth and yield; mass production of biological control agents for organically grown Arabica coffee in Benguet; development of Nutrio biofertilizer for sugarcane and vegetables; and a natural fungicide from the indigenous plant Tasmannia piperita against disease infections in lettuce and in tomato.
“With these gains, we hope to empower our fellow farmers with information on the technologies, as well as offer to interested parties, technologies that are ready for commercialization,” furthered Ebora.
Research initiatives on organic agriculture started since the declaration of RA 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. The law orders the promotion, propagation, and development of the practice of organic agriculture in the country. Moreover, it says that organic agriculture will “cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs.”
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (3rd from the left) leads the ribbon cutting to formally open the exhibits of the Biofertilizer and Biopesticide FIESTA and the Regional Science and Technology Week in Region X (Image credit: Gian Carlo D. Camacho, ACD, PCAARRD)
Technology pitching, business forum, and a field visit to two farms are the activities lined up during the Biofertilizer and Biopesticide FIESTA.
The Biofertilizer and Biopesticide FIESTA was organized by five Consortia of PCAARRD: Caraga Consortium for the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CCAARRD); Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC); Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC); and Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC).
For more information:
www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph