Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
RDEDigest
Official Research, Development and Extension Newsletter
of the University of the Philippines Los Baños
Vol. 1 No. 1
Nov 2008 - Apr 2009
www.imsc.res.in
biofuel in the
Philippines
may not be
as “sweet” as
promised
A number of experts worldwide
believe that ethanol
production from sugarcane will
USE OF SUGARCANE for biofuel is still
a subject of food vs fuel debates.
Vol 1 No 1
November 2008 - April 2009 3
RESEARCH PRIORITIES ... the post-harvest facilities. Rice
Continued from previous page farming in the broadplains was still
ANNOUNCEMENT a profitable investment in terms
review of literature. Prioritizing of soil related research. It was
Everyone is invited to use and research options was done by the also found that cultural practices
promote the following university application of benefit cost analysis.
websites. These sites are very improvement will be profitable in
appropriate and helpful to media The UPLB experts focused mango and banana farms.
practitioners, students, researchers their research on the Cagayan Resource allocation analysis also
and extension workers, local Valley region and identified revealed that the complementary
government officials and employees. five agricultural production human resources in the region
environments: undulating were not proportional to the
UPLB Research, Development
lowlands, broadplains, hillylands, research needs. The number
and Extension (RDE) News
Service Website highlands and coastal areas. of scientists doing soil and pest
http://rdenews.uplb.edu.ph The research themes mentioned related research in the region
by the farmers include soil-related, was limited. The UPLB experts
The UPLB RDE News Service is
an online service offering news and
pest-related, cultural practices and suggested that the regional offices
resources to the general public. post-harvest practices. be urged to work closely with
This website features news and the farmers in managing their
Results of the project showed that
resources focused on all areas agricultural base.
of agriculture, biotechnology, the farmers and scientists were one
arts and sciences, development in their understanding that the As surmised by the UPLB experts,
communication, engineering and production-related constraints “Other regions in the country may
agro-industrial technology, economics
topped the research priorities also have the need for an exercise
and management, forestry and natural
resources, human ecology, public affairs, needing to be addressed, related to this. With the hardware
veterinary medicine, and environmental especially for the rice and corn and software for GIS now readily
science and management. farmers. The farmers were found available, and the software for
more concerned about the state of economic analysis, the data about
UPLB Journals Online Website their natural resources such as the to be sorted and mapped out will
http://journals.uplb.edu.ph soil, as a production constraint. be feasible for replication in other
regions of the country in the very
The UPLB Journals Online is a web- Technology per se seemed not
short term.”
based service exclusively offered their priority at the time of the
to journals/ technical bulletins
published by various units of UPLB
research study though the project The other members of Dr. Rola’s
or by organizations affiliated with the results supported the contention team were Elvira E. Dumayas and
university. With this site, you can access that a need to invest in the Myrryl R. Britanico, University
the text or PDF of a journal article’s training programs for agricultural Researcher and University
abstract.
technicians in the modern Research Associate, respectively of
The site currently hosts 8 journals, technologies was inevitable. ISPPS, CPAF.
namely: The UPLB Journal,
The researchers recommended The technical team members
Agricultural and Applied Economics
Research Bulletin, Asia Life Sciences, that program on soil amelioration included Dr. Esteban C. Godilano,
Journal of Environmental Science especially in the broadplains be put Adjunct Professor at the ISPPS, Dr.
and Management, The Philippine in place as this effort was believed Tolentino B. Moya, now with UP
Agricultural Scientist, Philippine Journal to effect significant social benefit Diliman, Dr. Rodrigo B. Badayos of
of Biotechnology, Philippine Journal of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and
to the farmers in the region. The the Agricultural Systems Cluster,
the Philippine Journal of Veterinary advice of competent technicians in College of Agriculture (ASC-CA)
Medicine. the field would somehow loosen and Prof. Moises A. Dorado of the
up the farmers’ burden related College of Engineering and Agro-
Office of the Vice-Chancellor for to cultural practices and in the Industrial Technology (CEAT).
Research and Extension (OVCRE) scientific way of managing the soils
Website The completion of the project
and pests problems believed to was made possible through
http://ovcre.uplb.edu.ph
reap subsequent high benefits. fund support from the Bureau
The OVCRE website is a resource The project also showed that of Agricultural Research of the
center for researchers, extensionists
addressing the constraints related Department of Agriculture (DA-
and professional staff of UPLB. Users of
this portal will find useful and updated to cultural practices of the farmers BAR) [Rosario Gabatin]
information on UPLB’s research, was perceived to give much more
development and extension activities, its benefits than the other more
resources, and outputs. expensive technologies such as
Vol 1 No 1
November 2008 - April 2009 5
ACCORDING TO RESULTS, the IDE easy
drip system’s overhead should be at
least 3 m in height. DRIP IRRIGATION ...
Continued from previous page
Short courses
Prof. Moises Dorado and other training
named Assistant to programs to be
the Vice-Chancellor offered by UPLB
for R and E This summer 2009, UPLB units will
Prof. Moises A. Dorado is recently conduct their yearly training programs.
appointed as Assistant to the Vice- To get a glimpse on what is in store,
Chancellor for Research and Extension visit the new website of the Office of
by Vice-Chancellor Enrico P. Supangco PROF. MOISES DORADO , Assistant the Vice-Chancellor for Research and
effective January 2009. to the Vice-Chancellor for R and E Extension (OVCRE) at http://ovcre.
uplb.edu.ph.
Prof. Dorado’s appointment was office’s daily tasks and special
prompted by new initiatives made by projects,” Dr. Supangco elaborated. Nearly a hundred programs are offered
the OVCRE to achieve its goal toward to increase livelihood know-how,
efficient planning, implementation, Prof. Dorado, fondly called “Buboy” teaching and research capability, and
performance evaluation and by colleagues is an Assistant Professor business or managerial competency.
reporting of research and extension in Agricultural Engineering at the
activities in the university. According Institute of Agricultural Engineering, For those whose training needs do not
to Dr. Supangco, “the assistance of College of Engineering and Agro- fall on a summer, arrangements can
Prof. Dorado is very much needed Industrial Technology (CEAT). He still be arranged. With proper request,
to carry out the plans in making served as Associate Dean of the UPLB through its various units can
OVCRE services more efficient and college from 2005 – 2008. offer basic and specialized training
responsive.” courses at any given time or place the
A hydrology and geographic requesting party chooses.
“His experience in managing information systems expert, he is
personnel and meticulous approach in married to Prof. Adeliza Dorado, For training needs, interested parties
analyzing administrative procedures also an engineer based at CEAT, and may get in touch with the OVCRE by
are definitely a big boost to our blessed with 8-year-old Mikkel. emailing ovcre@uplb.edu.ph.
Controlled I n the Philippines and other South-East Asian nations, small ruminant
farming is seen to help uplift many poor farmers. In making this a viable
endoparasite industry, various institutions have joined hands to promote management
strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in goat kids because of
in goats means endoparasites.
The Australian Council for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
increased promoted multi-agency research and extension initiatives in sustainable
endoparasite control in the region. Due to the potential of the
productivity says technologies developed through ACIAR which are now being promoted
in the Philippines and the need to estimate the rate of return on the
UPLB assessment investment made by the various stakeholder organizations, ACIAR, DOST-
PCARRD and DA-BAR commissioned and funded an impact assessment
For many small ruminant of the these technologies. The University of the Philippines Los Baños
farmers, technologies that will (UPLB) led this study.
help alleviate their plight are
At UPLB, Dr. Nimfa D. Montes of the Department of Agribusiness
welcome. Management - College of Economics and Management who headed
Continued on next page
Vol 1 No 1
November 2008 - April 2009 13
christopherLABE
White corn no longer
poor man’s rice
M any Filipinos, particularly
in the poorer parts of the
Visayas and Mindanao regions,
is comparable to rice in taste
acceptability tests conducted in
rice-eating communities.
is also a member of the Technical
Working Group of the Ginintuang
Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn
eat white corn as their staple food Extensionists at UPLB’s College of Program of the DA.
instead of rice. Agriculture have been promoting UPLB has signed an agreement
the UPLB Rice-Corn Composite in with DA to produce 10,000 bags of
Some have said that white corn is every exhibition and technology UPLB’s IPB Var 6 white corn seeds
not as healthy as well-milled fancy demonstration possible. “We try to for distribution to farmers. IPB
rice. Dr. Artemio Salazar, a breeder emphasize the potential benefits– Var 6 is a high-yielding white corn
at UP Los Baños says otherwise. nutritional and economic–of using variety that has high lysine and
white corn every chance we get,” tryptophan levels, hence, more
Corn, in general, has higher Dr. Salazar said. protein content. It is the first of its
amylose content than rice. Being a kind in the country.
slow-release carbohydrate, white Economic and health benefits
corn, according to Dr. Salazar is An open-pollinated variety, IPB
best for stamina-requiring activities Increased production and Var 6 can be easily shared among
such as farming or boxing. It is also consumption of white corn in the farmers for succeeding plantings
recommended for weight watchers future would provide the country after the first harvest. This reduces
because it reduces food cravings. more flexibility in trying to meet the need for additional and
our increasing food needs. White possibly expensive farm inputs.
White corn also has a low glycemic corn production is basically rainfed
index. “People with diabetes and does not require expensive A yellow version of IPB Var 6 is
should eat more of it; it does irrigation. being developed for livestock
not raise blood sugar levels that and poultry feeds. With its high
much,” Dr. Salazar added. Dr. Salazar is optimistic that, with protein content, it will not require
renewed interest in white corn, expensive feed additives, thus
An alternative ‘staple’ there will be an increase in corn lowering production costs.
eaters. “Importation of rice could
UPLB researchers have formulated decrease, saving the government From the perception that corn is
a rice-corn mixture that may be money to support other important only for the downtrodden, it could
used to replace rice on the dinner matters such as education and now be said that it need not be a
table. White corn is milled into infrastructure,” Dr. Salazar said. direct equivalence. “Because of the
grits and mixed with rice grains additional nutritional attributes
to produce what is called a ‘rice A country-wide strategy for white it now possesses, white corn will
composite.’ corn benefit everybody,” Dr. Salazar
concluded.
In a study by Dr. Wilma A. Hurtada “The Department of Agriculture
of the Institute of the Human (DA) realizes that white corn Dr. Salazar is a faculty and
Nutrition and Food-College of production in the Philippines researcher of the College of
Human Ecology, a composite made should also be seriously Agriculture-UP Los Baños.
up of 60% rice and 40% corn grits supported,” said Dr. Salazar, who [Florante Cruz]
Want to invest?
developed technology? Or is your
company already established but
thinking of expanding by setting up
another branch or facility?
Come and visit UPLB and see how TBI might be of help
our technology business incubator
(TBI) may be of assistance to your
business situated right inside the Incubators are generally composed Central Luzon State University for
campus’ Science and Technology of universities, science parks, non- agriculture and food.
Park (STP). government organizations, and
the private sector. They are usually The UPLB Technology Business
The TBI as a service program in partnership with government Incubator (UPLB TBI)
of the university provides a agencies, financial institutions,
nurturing environment for growing venture capitalists and other As the leader in agriculture,
businesses at affordable rates, and organizations. biotechnology, environment,
much more. While establishing and engineering research in the
business at the UPLB STP, you can One of the most popular types country, UPLB is establishing its
access UPLB’s service laboratories of business incubator is the TBI in line with the Department of
and pool of manpower and technology business incubator Science and Technology’s (DOST)
resources. You can get professional which targets high-growth medium-term plan to strengthen
assistance such counseling on technology firms requiring a strong the transfer and commercialization
intellectual property rights and foundation in technology and of UPLB-developed technologies.
legal matters. Your start-up may human capital to support their
also avail management and business growth. The UPLB TBI focuses on
business strategy services such technology-based businesses
as business plan preparation, R & The business incubation concept and will provide a resource-
D strategy formulation, financial is relatively new in the Philippines. rich environment where
matching support and networking. Although there have been entrepreneurial ventures can take
initiatives in the past, these were root, where young companies can
How TBI came about? not able to meet expectations and develop their potential, and where
sustain operations. established firms can expand their
Business incubation (BI) is defined opportunities.
by the United Kingdom Business Presently, business incubation
Incubation Association as a unique in the country is being revived UPLB has already three incubator
and highly flexible combination of through the efforts of the buildings built through a DOST
business development processes, Philippine Council for Advanced grant. Although these TBIs are
infrastructure and people, Science and Technology Research not fully functional yet, efforts are
designed to nurture and grow new and Development (PCASTRD) underway towards reviving their
and small businesses by supporting in partnership with Germany- operation.
them through the early stages of based InWent Capability Building,
development, change and growth. International. At the outset, the UPLB STP has
already been expanded to cover
The concept became popular in the Under this program, five selected 156 hectares which includes
USA and Europe as an economic pilot TBIs will be put in the some of UPLB’s research units
development tool in the 1980s. following locations: UP Los and institutions. Of the area, 22
Today, the number of business Baños for agri-biotechnology hectares have been allocated for
incubators is increasing and has and information technology, UP the Agri-Biotech TBI while five
already reached Asia particularly Cebu College for information hectares will be for the Information
China and Malaysia, North America technology, UP Visayas for oceanic Technology Hub.
and Latin America. and aqua-marine technologies, and Continued on last page
Vol 1 No 1
November 2008 - April 2009 15
TECHONOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATION ...
Continued from previous page
PRODUCTS such as virgin coconut oil, soap
and other coconut-based body care items are
To fast track the currently produced at the UPLB Science and
Technology Park by O’ Mark Enterprises.
commercialization of Retired BIOTECH researcher Dr. Teresita M.
technologies, the Center Espino is the the company’s proprietor.
for Technology Transfer and
Entrepreneurship was created
by the UPLB administration.
It performs the integrated The RDE Digest is published
semi-annually by the Office of the Vice-
functions of the APEC Center Chancellor for Research and Extension with
for Technology Exchange office at the OVCRE Building, Kanluran
corner Lanzones Roads, UPLB, College,
and Training for Small Laguna 4031 Philippines.
and Medium Enterprises,
It is released during April and October of the
Intellectual Property year, in time for the UPLB Commencement
Office, and the Science and Exercises and UPLB Loyalty Day.
Technology Park.
editorial consultants
Enrico P. Supangco
In general, the targets Moises A. Dorado
groups of the UPLB TBI are editor-in-chief
bioindustry technology-driven Rosario Gabatin
in partnership with the private in the CALABARZON area and in RDE News Website [http://rdenews.uplb.
edu.ph].
or public sector; students who the Asia-Pacific region
Contributions related to research and
want to start a business using extension from UPLB faculty and staff are
technologies they have developed With the TBI, UPLB asserts welcome. Please send manuscripts and digital
or other technologies available, its capacity for technology photographs via email: ovcre@uplb.edu.ph.
and entrepreneurs and investors. commercialization and
Comments on the published content can also
Established companies who may technoentrepreneurship. be sent through the same email address.
want to expand their business [Perrose L. Comendador and Dr. Dinah
Pura T. Depositario] Requests for use of content for publication
through the TBI are also targeted. should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief.