The management of bamboo resources faces a significant challenge due to lack of reliable and updated data. This deficiency affects the optimization of bamboo production, harvest, and processing, thereby slowing down progress in the bamboo industry and sustainable resource management.
In response, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), has released the information bulletin, "Manual on Harmonized System for Community-based Inventory of Bamboo Resources in the Philippines."
This manual provides a structured approach to mapping and assessing bamboo resources in key production areas in the Philippines. By offering stakeholders accurate data and decision-making tools captured in this publication, these can drive sustainable development, environmental conservation, and economic growth in the bamboo sector.
The significance of this publication extends to various stakeholders, including bamboo farmers, industry practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and environmental advocates. It serves as a guide for improving the management of bamboo resources, fostering community engagement, and promoting innovation in the industry.
Interested readers may visit or contact DOST-PCAARRD for printed materials or download the e-copy at https://elibrary.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/slims. Printed and digital copies are free of charge.
As aquatic animals are continuously being exposed to diseases resulting in increased mortality rates and declined productivity and financial gains, probiotics pose a potential as a promising solution.
Countries like the European Union totally banned antibiotics in aquaculture farming due to its possible significant contribution to increased bacterial antibiotic resistance and food safety issues. Accordingly, probiotics are being fully explored to serve as alternatives to antibiotics.
However, even with the recognized potential of probiotics, challenges persist especially in their commercial production. Commercially available probiotic products are formulated in powder or liquid forms. When applied, these products are highly affected by adverse environmental conditions such as water temperature, pH level, and salinity, which could possibly harm microorganisms and minimize host functionality.
Formulation and preparation of feeds for tilapia and milkfish experimental trials. (Image credit: UPLB Project Team)
Addressing these concerns, researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) developed an alginate-based probiotic called MicroBead™. This technology offers an advantage over commercially available probiotic products as it can strengthen functionality through an efficient delivery system of probiotics with controlled release to its target site.
This is made possible through the project, “MicroBead™ Technology: Enhancing Fish Gut Nutrition through Efficient Delivery System and Functionality of Microencapsulated Probiotics for Aquaculture.” The project aims to enhance the overall efficacy of probiotics in aquaculture and contribute to sustainable aquaculture development. It is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Contrary to the commercially available products, MicroBead™ technology provides a protective shield against harsh conditions of the environment. It improves the shelf-life of probiotics through barrier action against oxidation and other impacting factors.
The project conducted a comparative analysis of the in vitro release during simulated gastrointestinal digestion of probiotics from two forms: the MicroBead™ and a commercially available non-encapsulated probiotic product. Results showed that the non-encapsulated commercial product released 58% of its probiotics before reaching the gastrointestinal tract, while only 3% of probiotics were released from the MicroBead™. With this, the project noted that this indicates a matrix-mediated controlled release mechanism that sets it apart from the commercial product.
MicroBeadTM (left) and antibacterial property of MicroBeadTM probiotics against Aeromonas hydrophila. (Image credit: UPLB Project Team)
This underscores the distinctive feature of MicroBead™ compared with commercial products. The controlled release mechanism and the MicroBead™’s swelling properties suggest that it may offer a more targeted and efficient delivery of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract, with probiotics being released in the intestine can exert their beneficial effects.
Aside from its dynamic swelling behavior leading to the controlled-release mechanism within the gastrointestinal tract, MicroBead™also showed functionality in eliciting antibacterial properties against common bacterial pathogens. Scientific investigations have demonstrated that tilapia fed with MicroBead™markedly elevated disease resistance when challenged with bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus agalactiae. This explains the pivotal role of probiotics in strengthening host immune responses and modulating gut microbiota. Furthermore, MicroBead™serves as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture that mitigates environmental concerns associated with antibiotic use, while ensuring high-quality production of pathogen-resistant fish stocks.
The increasing recognition of probiotics and their development can intensify aquaculture farming to create a higher-quality aquaculture product. Further, it serves as a key management tool for the efficient delivery of functional probiotics in improving gut health and environment quality. MicroBead™ technology has the potential for commercialization and local value addition because it can be formulated, developed, and mass-produced, possibly contributing to the development of aquaculture farming.
Kilala ang rehiyon ng Bicol sa iba’t ibang pagkaing may natatanging sarap ng mga katutubong gulay na matatagpuan sa probinsya tulad ng gabi. Ang dahon ng gabi ay ginagamit sa mga sikat na putahe tulad ng laing at pinangat. Ginagamit din itong sangkap sa iba pang mga produktong pagkain.
Gayunpaman, naitala na bumaba ang produksyon ng gabi sa rehiyon mula 2020 dahil sa kawalan ng pormal o maayos na pamamahala ng tanim, mataas na insidente ng peste at sakit, at pagkalugi mula sa mga hindi nagamit o nabentang ani.
Upang muling mapasigla ang industriya ng gabi at iba pang mga katutubong pananim sa rehiyon, inilunsad ng Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) ang programang, “Boosting the Taro Industry and Indigenous Crops of the Bicol Region,” sa pakikipagtulungan ng Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA).
Kasabay ng nasabing aktibidad, binanggit ni Project Leader Allan B. Del Rosario na ang layunin ng programa ay mapaunlad ang produksyon at pamamahala ng mga teknolohiya ng gabi at pataasin ang paggamit ng mga katutubong pananim sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng iba’t ibang mga produkto mula sa mga ito.
Ang pagkolekta ng mga mahuhusay na seleksyon ng gabi sa buong Bicol ay isa sa mga pangunahing bahagi ng nasabing programa. Susuriin ang mga koleksyon base sa kalidad ng kanilang mga dahon at ugat o ‘corm’ para sa paggawa ng produkto mula rito. Ang mga koleksyong ito ay pangangalagaan sa ‘germplasm facility’ ng CBSUA at gagamitin para sa mga susunod pang pag-aaral. Inihayag naman ni Dir. Leilani D. Pelegrina, mula sa Crops Research Division (CRD) ng DOST-PCAARRD, ang kaniyang pasasalamat sa CBSUA program team para sa kanilang suporta at inisyatiba para sa industriya ng gabi sa Bicol upang matugunan ang mga problema sa industriya.
Maliban sa pagpapalaganap ng mga kaalaman ukol sa mga katutubong pananim sa nasabing rehiyon, ang programa ay inaasahan din na palalawakin pa ang pagbibigay ng impormasyon sa pamamagitan ng mga information, education, and communication (IEC) materials na nagpapakita ng mga resulta sa pagpapabuti tungkol sa pamamahala, kultura, paggawa ng produkto, at mga mahuhusay na barayti ng gabi.
Opisyal na inilunsad ng Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) ang dalawang proyekto ng Visayas State University (VSU) sa ilalim ng Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP) na bahagi ng Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Ito ay inilunsad sa pamamagitan ng isang ‘inception meeting’ na ginanap kamakailan sa VSU, Baybay City, Leyte.
Inilahad ni Dr. Suzette B. Lina, lider ng proyektong "Development and Evaluation of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Strategies for Hybrid Coconut Farming in Eastern Visayas,” ang mga teknikal at pinansiyal na detalye ng proyekto. Ayon sa kanya, layunin ng proyekto na bumuo ng isang komprehensibong ‘fertilization program’ para sa produksyon ng hybrid na niyog sa Silangang Visayas.
Kasama rin sa pulong si Dr. Justine Bennette H. Millado, lider ng proyektong, “Evaluation and Development of Biological and Biorational Control Agents for Sustainable Management of Asiatic Palm Weevil (APW) and other Important Pests affecting Hybrid Coconuts in Eastern Visayas." Ibinahagi ni Dr. Millado na ang proyekto ay susubaybayan ang insidente at pinsala ng APW, bubuo ng ‘early warning system’ para sa mga peste ng niyog, at magpaparami ng mga ‘eco-friendly agents’ upang kontrolin ang mga peste.
Matapos ang presentasyon ng mga proyekto, pinangunahan ng Crops Research Division (CRD) ng DOST-PCAARRD ang talakayan sa implementasyon at pamamahalang pinansyal ng mga proyekto upang linawin ang mga katanungan at matiyak ang maayos na pagpapatupad sa mga ito.
Binisita rin ng grupo ang mga laboratoryo at pasilidad ng VSU tulad ng Coconut Somatic Embryogenesis Technology (CSet) ‘laboratory’ at ‘screenhouse’ at ang National Coconut Research Center (NCRC)-Visayas.
Ang Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), kasama ang mga lider at mga eksperto sa industriya ng niyog, ay nagkaroon ng talakayan tungkol sa Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP) sa ilalim ng Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Nilalayon ng CHP na tugunan ang kakulangan sa supply ng niyog sa pamamagitan ng pagpapataas ng produksyon ng mga ‘coconut hybrids’ gamit ang mga angkop na teknolohiya at makapag-bigay ng suporta sa pananaliksik sa ‘coconut hybridization.’
Ang coconut hybrids ay bunga ng dalawang magkaibang uri ng niyog na pinili dahil sa mga kanais-nais nitong katangian. Kumpara sa mga tradisyonal na ‘tall’ at ‘dwarf’ na niyog, ang hybrids ay may mas mataas na ani.
Kabilang sa mga naging tampok ng usapan ang pagbabahagi ng impormasyon ni Deputy Administrator Ramon L. Rivera ng Philippine Coconut Authority-Research and Development Branch (PCA-RDB). Ibinahagi ni DA Rivera ang ilan sa mga pakinabang na handog ng coconut hybrids gaya ng mas mataas na kalidad ng ani, mas mabilis na pagtubo ng halaman, at mas mahusay na ‘input efficiency.’
Ayon pa kay DA Rivera, may ilang coconut hybrids na namumunga sa loob lamang ng apat hanggang limang taon mula sa pagkaka-tanim at maaari rin itong mamunga ng 15,000 hanggang 22,000 na niyog kada ektarya kada taon. Ang mga katangiang ito ng hybrid na niyog ay nakahihikayat sa mga magsasaka dahil sa potensyal nito na pataasin ang kita at mapababa ang gastos sa pag-aalaga.
Habang ang coconut hybrids ay nagbibigay ng mas magandang bunga para sa mga magsasaka at mamimili, binigyang-diin ni DA Rivera na ang layunin ng CHP ay hindi palitan ang mga tradisyonal na uri ng niyog sa bansa, kundi upang magbigay ng karagdagang uri ng niyog na pamimilian ng mga magsasaka.
Ibinahagi ni Director Leilani D. Pelegrina ng Crops Research Division ng DOST-PCAARRD na patuloy ang suporta ng DOST-PCAARRD sa pananaliksik upang higit pang mapahusay ang mga teknolohiya na may kinalaman sa coconut hybrids. Ayon kay Dir. Pelegrina, tinitingnan din ng mga siyentipiko ang pinakamainam na pagpapaunlad ng mga coconut hybrid at pagtukoy ng pinakamahusay na mga kasanayan sa pamamahala ng peste at sakit nito.
