Nation

The Insiklo bioconversion facility rears black soldier fly larvae that transform organic waste into animal feed and compost for crop production. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO FOUNDED by Joseph Navasero, Insiklo is a startup venture that is turning market and household wastes into feed and fertilizer with the aid of the insect called black soldier fly (BSF). According to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), about 500 kilograms of market waste from Los Baños municipality in Laguna province are sent every week to the Insiklo facility. Then the larvae of BSF devour food scrap, agricultural debris and manure, reducing the waste volume and odor into a nutrient-rich compost for use as organic fertilizer on crops. The ...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO DAKOTA, a digital tool that can bolster sustainable production of food export commodities in Indonesia, is a demonstration of the power of agricultural technology, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said Dakota is a digital platform that will soon reach the okra farmers of Grobogan in Central Java, Indonesia. He said the tool helps farmers achieve international market standards and fair prices through transparent records of the quality control and agricultural practices applied to their commodities. "Searca Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (Grains) supports digital innovations that reward sustainable practices, making a difference in ...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO DAKOTA, a digital tool that can bolster sustainable production of food export commodities in Indonesia, is a demonstration of the power of agricultural technology, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said Dakota is a digital platform that will soon reach the okra farmers of Grobogan in Central Java, Indonesia. He said the tool helps farmers achieve international market standards and fair prices through transparent records of the quality control and agricultural practices applied to their commodities. "Searca Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (Grains) supports digital innovations that reward sustainable practices, making a difference in ...

SENATE PRESIDENT MIGUEL ZUBIRI MANILA (August 8, 2023)—Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is pushing for the establishment of rice production zones (RPZs) with intensified government support. He said the country should start weaning its dependence away from imported rice and reduce the risk of food insecurity. He said the two recent typhoons badly hit Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley) and 3 (Central Luzon), which roughly account for 40 percent of rice input and 80 percent of corn production. Thus, there is a need to establish "rice production zones and inundating it with government support and attention." The senate president said he made this proposal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the dinner hosted by the Chief Executive for members of the Philippine Senate in A...

Revealed by UK-based firm at MMSU The seminar was held at the MMSU’s Center for Flexible Learning. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO CITY OF BATAC (June 24, 2023)—Emphasizing the benefits of manufacturing solar cells that use quantum Dot technology as a highly transformative and advanced renewable resource, the United Kingdom (UK)-based Regius Energy Corp. introduced the nanoparticle thin film solar cells to Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) researchers and students. In a seminar held at the MMSU Center for Flexible Learning, Albert Chan Tu, Regius Energy Corp. chief executive officer, said that manufacturing the advanced technology can help address the sustainability of the country's energy needs. It can also contribute to global environment goals and enhance its e...

Leading agri-based products from the Ilocos Region were showcased during the latest Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Exposition (Aspire) for the region. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO ILOCOS NORTE (June 22, 2023)—The agribusiness industry in Ilocos Region has so much to offer, be it a warm cup of hot choco made from Pangasinan cacao, "pakbet" crisps of Ilocano young farmers and the nine-year-old "bugnay" wines from Ilocos Norte. With these, the Department of Agriculture (DA) held the annual Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Exposition (Aspire) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCI) for the region. Aspire has four driving component...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO DELEGATES from the Cagayan State University, the Nueva Vizcaya State University, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the Visayas State University were sent to Thailand for a training program on practical bioinformatics skills for plant and animal whole genome sequencing data. Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) Director Glenn Gregorio said the participation of the delegates in the training was made possible through the support of the center's Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) grant. In addition to the four project-sponsored delegates, two additional UPLB representatives were present, courtesy of the Searc...

CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela (March 30, 2023)—The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Conner in Apayao province on March 29, 2023 reaffirmed its declaration against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA_NDF) as persona non grata in Caglayan, Conner, Apayao. According to the 5th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office headed by Major Rigor Pamittan, a joint resolution was passed by the municipality’s Sangguniang Bayan and Liga ng Barangay and was approved by the local chief executive declaring the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF as unwelcome in the municipality. Pamittan said the resolution stated that for 54 years, the CPP-NPA-NDF has been imposing atrocities, instilling fear in the community, killing government forces and innoc...

Photo shows part of the machines distributed at no cost to farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Maguindanao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO MAGUINDANAO (March 30, 2023)—Forty-five farmers' cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Maguindanao recently received P115.12 million worth of farm machines at no cost under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Program. According to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) headed by Director Dionisio Alvindia, a total of 5,986 farmers from the 45 FCAs in Maguindanao will directly benefit from the machines given to them under the RCEF-Mechanization Program. PHilMech is an agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA). The machines were distributed at the Bangsa...

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (March 30, 2023)—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) has joined ecotourism champions and practitioners in co-hosting the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) from March 29 to April 2, in Silang town in Cavite province. At the opening ceremony on Wednesday, March 29, Searca director Dr. Glenn Gregorio gave a special message and opened the Searca exhibit at the venue featuring the Center's publications, projects and activities. The exhibit used recycled and refurbished materials from Searca's previous events to promote sustainable practices and resource efficiency. Gregorio said Searca's participation in the IETM is led by the Searca Training for Development Unit under the Education and Collective Lear...