The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) participates in this year’s 12th National Biotechnology Week (NBW), which will be held at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) from November 21 to 25, 2016.
Headed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), this year’s NBW will be a weeklong activity that will highlight the technological advancements and potential benefits that can be derived from the various applications of biotechnology in the agriculture, environment, and health sectors.
NBW 2016 has the theme, Bioteknolohiya: Kaagapay sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran, and the tagline, Yakapin ang Pagbabago, Biotek na Tayo!
As part of DOST’s activities during the NBW, PCAARRD will be holding a two-day agriculture and aqua science and technology (S&T) fora on November 22 and 24, respectively. Aside from the fora, the Council, along with other DOST agencies, will be showcasing its biotechnology initiatives through an exhibit that will be displayed at the BSWM grounds throughout the week.
The November 22 agriculture forum will feature the following: application of genomics in sugarcane variety development by the Philippine Sugar Research Institute (Philsurin); molecular marker development in mango by the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); the role of assisted reproduction in dairy industry development and value of molecular techniques in hard to select traits of pigs by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).
Meanwhile, the November 24 forum will focus on the biotech applications in the aquatic sector. Topics will include the practical genomics in mangrove crab rearing by the De La Salle University (DLSU); DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity analysis of cultured Nile and feral tilapia by the Institute of Biology of the University of the Philippines Diliman; coral genomics; and the biotech in sardines.
NBW will be participated by DOST, Department of Health (DOH), DA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission for Higher Education (CHED), Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC), and the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines.
NBW is an annual celebration which kicked off in 2005 and was institutionalized in 2007 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1414. The event serves as a venue for government agencies, academic communities, and private institutions to create awareness about the role of biotechnology in food production and security.