With its rich and savory taste, the freshwater eel has seen an increase in appreciation in local and international markets. Taking advantage of this, a study initiated by scientists from Cagayan Valley aims to propel the culture of eels with their simple yet stunning innovation.
The freshwater eel industry in the Philippines has become a valuable contributor to the national economy. In recent years, the Philippines has been a major source of eels for Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, local markets have also seen a significant consumption of eels, especially in the regions.
To further propel the eel industry, Dr. Isagani P. Angeles, Jr. of the Isabela State University (ISU) started a research project that improved feeding practices in eel farms. The project aims to increase the survival rate of eels during culture using aquatic plants, such as ‘kangkong’ and Azolla as feed supplements. Such plants were proven to improve the immune system of the eels against bacterial infections.
With eight months of research, Dr. Angeles and his team generated results that showcase improvements in the production of eels. By adding 2% kangkong and 2% Azolla extracts to the diet, the eels presented a positive immune response against Aeromonas hydrophila infection, a major problem in the industry. Also, the eels exhibited increased weight, growth, and survival rate.
Dr. Angeles recommends that the formulated diet is fed daily for six months until the eels grow to six inches.
Dr. Angeles and his team plan to contribute more to the eel industry and turn Cagayan Valley into an eel capital. According to them, further research and development on eels' status, species composition, and diversity in other parts of the country like Ilocos, Bicol, Cotabato, and Butuan are in the pipeline.
Did you know that a technology that primarily addresses the existing challenges in maintaining good water quality in shrimp ponds has already been developed?
The Metals Industry Research and Development Center of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-MIRDC) and industry partner Aqua Tierra Agri-Industrial Farms Inc. developed the technology, i-POND: a Long-Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)-based water quality control and monitoring system.
Participants during iSCENE 2024 inquiring about the iPOND technology. (Image credit: IARRD, DOST-PCAARRD)
iPOND was already tested in three shrimp grow-out cycles. Researchers collected real-time pH, dissolved oxygen, humidity, and temperature data that can be monitored through laptops, personal computers, and mobile phones. The technology aimed to improve the farm’s water quality monitoring system and result in an overall increase in productivity.
From manually monitoring and visiting the pond three times, data gathering using hand-held measuring kits on different pond spots, and identifying any water quality issue, the technology can now allow farm technicians to monitor the pond’s water quality remotely as long as an internet connection is available. These efforts are expected to aid aquaculture sustainability, minimizing resource wastage and reducing manual labor.
The technology was an output of the project, “i-POND: A LoRaWAN-based Pond Water Quality Control and Monitoring System for Shrimp Farms," which was monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
Meanwhile, mangrove crab farming has also climbed the technology ladder. De La Salle University developed an Android-based mobile application for juvenile crab species identification called the Crabifier.
De La Salle University project team discussing the Crabifier mobile application to interested participants at iSCENE 2024. (Image credit: IARRD, DOST-PCAARRD)
DOST-PCAARRD funded the project, “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Mangrove Crab Culture and Resource Management: 'Omics Approaches, Web-based and Mobile Computing Technologies,” which has created the Crabifier.
Crabifier is a free and accurate Android-based mobile application that can identify the species of juvenile crablets of the genus Scylla. It allows mangrove crab farmers to pick their chosen species from juveniles captured from the wild and to ensure the authenticity of species sold by the traders.
Traditionally, fishermen and traders rely on visual features such as claws, width, and size of the carapace (thick part covering the body of the crab), and color to identify juvenile mangrove crabs. Some regions also consider behavior patterns, carapace texture, weight gain rate, and seasonality. The manual identification of crablets typically takes 3–4 hours per day, which adds significant time to the sorting process.
With the Crabifier, the identification of crab species for fishermen can now be streamlined. It helps them save time, minimize losses, and avoid potential fraudulent practices by verifying the crab species being sold.
These technologies were featured at the International Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities Exposition and Networking Engagement (iSCENE 2024) in Cauayan City, Isabela last April 11–13, 2024. The iSCENE 2024 was an avenue for key players in the government, industries, and academic institutions to explore opportunities to build and pave the way for smart and sustainable communities.
Highlighting the importance of science-based solutions and innovations, DOST-PCAARRD ensures that these technologies were built and designed to tend to the needs of the industry. The i-POND and Crabifier were two of the agency’s many efforts toward enabling smarter and sustainable practices in aquaculture for the future.
Invasive gastropods remain a major threat to agriculture and horticulture. They are known to feed on plant leaves, stems, and fruits, leading to reduced crop yields and economic losses for farmers. Although a wide range of management strategies are available, farmers continue to struggle to control these pests. Molluscicides, such as metaldehyde, are the most common management tool and although deemed effective, these can be toxic to non-target species and increase gastropod tolerance to metaldehyde.
Nematodes are considered very useful in sustainable pest management practices, particularly in managing gastropod populations in agriculture. This has been the research focus of nematologist and Balik Scientist Dr. Irma Tandingan De Ley, which she now shares with her host institutions in the Mindanao region.
Two of the world’s most invasive terrestrial gastropods are found in the Philippines namely, giant African land snail (GALS) and golden apple snail (GAS). However, gastropod research in the country only focused on GALS, with little to no attention given to slugs and their role in zoonosis or their impact on agriculture.
In Mindanao, recent observations and reports collected in vegetable and fruit nurseries and from pineapple plantation growers revealed the presence of slugs in Davao del Sur, Davao City, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga del Sur. Studies on nematodes associated with slugs are new and have just started in the Mindanao region.
Recognizing the need for training and expertise in gastropod and nematode research, Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) and the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) brought in Dr. De Ley as a medium-term Balik Scientist to impart her knowledge and years of experience in gastropod biocontrol using nematode Phasmarbaditis, as well as gastropod and nematode species diagnostics, taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny.
Dr. Irma Tandingan De Ley with students and faculty researchers from USeP and DSSC. (Image credit: Dr. Irma Tandingan De Ley)
With the support of DSSC and USeP, Dr. De Ley is spearheading the research on slugs in selected provinces of Northern Mindanao and Davao regions, focusing on their identity, diversity, and distribution using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial DNA barcode. Since commencing her Balik Scientist Program (BSP) stint, Dr. De Ley, USeP, and DDSC teams have surveyed a total of six slugs and four snail species. The team recorded the first report of a cosmopolitan terrestrial slug and a slug-associated nematode in the Philippines.
Currently, she is also training and mentoring students and faculty researchers from DSSC and USeP on the improved laboratory protocols for gastropod and nematode survey, maintenance, and molecular barcoding for fast and accurate species diagnostics. For the next phase of her BSP engagement, Dr. De Ley seeks to understand invasive gastropod spread in the region and isolate and identify nematodes with biocontrol potential. With this, a safer approach to mitigate invasive gastropod species in high-value crops can be established.
Monitoring and evaluation visit of DOST-PCAARRD staff at USeP, March 2024. (Image credit: DSSC)
Dr. De Ley holds a doctorate in Plant Pathology from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Since 1997, she has been a member of the Department of Nematology at the University of California, where she served as an Associate Project Scientist IV until her retirement in 2023. In 2020, she was granted a US patent on the use of the CA isolates of Phasmarhabditis as a mollusk-killing biopesticide. Dr. De Ley’s initiatives are made possible through the BSP, which taps the ingenuity of Filipino scientists and experts residing and working abroad to strengthen the science and technology capabilities of local researchers and scholars addressing critical and emerging concerns in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector.
In a groundbreaking reunion aimed at spearheading agricultural innovation, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) work together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This event, held in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, heralds not just a formal agreement but the dawn of a new era in collaboration that focuses on tackling crucial challenges in the agricultural sector.
Dr. Marco Wopereis, Director General of the World Vegetable Center, echoed Dr. Ebora's sentiments, emphasizing the significance of vegetable production and consumption in addressing nutritional challenges. Dr. Wopereis outlined the historical ties between the Philippines and WorldVeg, highlighting initiatives to promote vegetable production and consumption in the country. (Image credit: ACD, DOST-PCAARRD)
DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo Ebora expressed his enthusiasm during the ceremony and highlighted the collaborative efforts in various critical areas, such as germplasm conservation, cultural management, integrated pest management, postharvest development, decision support systems, and smart farming approaches. He emphasized a shared commitment to innovation and research, underlining the importance of addressing crucial challenges in agriculture.
The MOU outlines a broad scope of cooperation between DOST-PCAARRD and WorldVeg, encompassing joint research and development, scholarships, exchange programs, information sharing, and organizing joint events. Specific areas of collaboration include germplasm conservation, cultural management, integrated pest management, postharvest development, decision support systems, and smart farming approaches.
(From left to right) Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division Director Lilian Bondoc, Institution Development Division Director Fezoil Luz Decena, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development Juanito Batalon, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo Ebora, WorldVeg Director General Marco Wopereis, Crops Research Division (CRD) Director Leilani Pelegrina, Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) Officer-in-Charge Maria Teresa de Guzman, CRD Supervising Science Research Specialist Sharie Al-faiha Lubang, and ARMRD Science Research Specialist II Kathleen Faith Villarma. (Image credit: ACD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Key provisions of the MOU include mechanisms for intellectual property management and dispute settlement procedures. The agreement, valid for 5 years with provisions for its extension, sets the stage for impactful projects and initiatives to transform the agricultural landscape and improve the lives of farmers and communities.
Both parties agreed to implement initiatives on various fronts, including value chain policy studies and adaptability trials. With concerned technical division directors present, the event symbolized a collective commitment to driving agricultural innovation in the Philippines.
As the partnership between DOST-PCAARRD and WorldVeg takes shape, stakeholders can anticipate transformative projects that promise to revolutionize agriculture and ensure food security for all. Together, these organizations are poised to make significant strides toward sustainable farming practices and equitable access to nutritious food in the Philippines and across borders.
Ribbon cutting ceremony to open the exhibits during the Root Crops FIESTA. (Image credit: Reinier Josef Abagat, ACD, DOST-PCAARRD)
The Root Crops Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) kicks off today with an opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.
Held today at Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay Leyte, the FIESTA aims to showcase root crops technology outputs of the Visayas Regional Consortia of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) among technology generators, farmers, investors, and entrepreneurs. “We hope that the Root Crops FIESTA will be able to inspire participation from local government units, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, and other stakeholders,” says DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora in his keynote message delivered by DOST-PCAARRD Applied Communication Division (ACD) Director Marita A. Carlos. He added that through collaboration, we can explore new opportunities, share best practices, and co-create innovative solutions to propel the root crops industry forward. Dr. Ebora also discussed the aim of DOST-PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) for Sweetpotato to increase sweetpotato production, enhance the utilization and promotion of fresh and value-added sweetpotato products, and improve food value chains. Highlighting the FIESTA are the technology pitching and technology forum that hope to further promote root crops technologies that are ready for commercialization. Root crop products and technologies are also being showcased through an exhibit. Alongside, activities including Technology to People (T2P) media conference, farm visit, cooking demonstration, and other root crops-themed pocket events are set to engage participants. The Root Crops FIESTA is led and organized by the Western Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (WESVAARRDEC), Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Program (ViCARP), and the Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC).
FIESTA is an Intellectual Property Office (IPO)-registered technology promotion and commercialization platform initiated by DOST-PCAARRD. It aims to empower farmers and fisherfolk to improve on their livelihood as well as match technology generators to target adopters.
