The centerpiece of the DOST-PCAARRD regional consortia exhibit. (Image credit: ACD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Advances in agri-aqua S&T were exhibited by the five Mindanao-based consortia of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) at the Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) 2024 held at SMX Lanang, Davao City.
DATE is an annual event aimed at enhancing the marketability of local products and services and fostering collaboration between government agencies and private industries. It is the biggest and longest-running agri-business expo in the Southern Philippines.
The Western Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESMAARRDEC), Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NOMCAARRD), Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC), SOCCSKSARGEN Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC), and the CARAGA Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (CCAARRD) comprise DOST-PCAARRD’s regional consortia in Mindanao representing Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII.
SOXAARRDEC’s cacao wine and nata de cacao (foreground) and NOMCAARRD’s purple sweetpotato flour (background) on display. Image credit: ACD, DOST-PCAARRD
Featured in the exhibit were CCAARRD's Caraga black native chicken, falcata seed enhancement, and Tudela black soybean products; NOMCAARRD's natural fungicide from T. piperita, spirulina biomass, and purple sweetpotato flour; SMAARRDEC's ChicIOT, lactic acid technology, liquid trichoderma, okara coco nuggets, mechanical cococlimber, pastillas de Guso, and Zappify rice black bug eliminator; SOXAARRDEC’s halal chevon products, chevon sausage, nata de cacao, and cacao wine; and WESMARRDEC's squash-filled hopia, seaweed harvester, and ZamPen native chicken. DOST-PCAARRD likewise funded the projects that generated these products and technologies, aptly branded by the Mindanao consortia as “Tatak MindaNow” for DATE 2024.
Now on its 26th year, DATE is a brainchild of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated. For 2024, the event’s theme is “Agriculture 4.0: Transforming Agriculture in the digital age.”