A renewed collaboration between DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is in the offing.
The collaboration is likely to focus on livestock research and development initiatives and advocacies.
This develops after a breakfast meeting held recently between the Council’s Executive Director, Dr. Patricio S. Faylon and ILRI’s Regional Representative for East and Southeast Asia, Dr. Steve J. Staal who visited the Council to identify and assess the Council’s priority areas and find opportunities for cooperation.
Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Director of the Livestock Research Division introduced PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Plans (ISPs), its objectives, features, and desired outcomes.
Focusing on ISP for swine, Dr. Villar explained its expected results and the projected incremental benefits of each on-going projects and programs in support of the industry targets.
Dr. Villar also discussed PCAARRD’s technology transfer modalities to enhance the dissemination of S&T-based interventions to target beneficiaries.
PCAARRD-ILRI collaboration dates back in the early 2000s in an ILRI R&D initiatives on small ruminants and crop-animal system projects which was coordinated by the then PCARRD.
This collaboration gave birth to the Farmer Livestock School on Integrated Goat Management (FLS-IGM) which later on became the Farmer Livestock School for Goat Enterprise Management (FLS-GEM).
FLS-GEM is currently adopted by the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers and Associations of the Philippines Inc. (FGASPAPI).
Dr. Staal expressed his interest towards the Council’s initiatives specifically those pertaining to the conservation and utilization of Philippine native animals like swine and native chicken.
Staal assured the Council that ILRI will assess the researchable areas where the PCAARRD-ILRI collaboration can take place and at the same time promised ILRI’s support for the Council particularly in ensuring food security and reducing poverty through sustainable utilization of livestock.