Dr. Edwin C.Villar, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) presents the different science and technology initiatives that the Council has funded and were developed by its partner agencies for the benefit of the country’s agriculture and aquatic sectors. Among these technologies are those on irradiated carrageenan, which can increase rice yield from 15-40% and coconut somatic embryogenesis technology (CSET), which can enhance the production of coconut planting materials from the conventional one plantlet per plumule to 1,000 plantlets.
Participants, who are mostly from the micro, small and medium enterprises of the Davao region, joined the forum in connection with the three- day Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) at SMX SM Lanang Premier, Davao City, which runs from September 22 to 24, 2016. Villar articulated how DOST-PCAARRD pursues its vision in being the leader in science and technology innovation for the country’s agriculture and aquatic sectors.