“Generally, the program aims to build a vibrant agri-fisheries innovation and technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem starting off with the catalyst as one of the key factors unlocking the potentials of agribusiness and agriculture as a whole,” Bernalin Cruz, PMELD’s ATBI program focal, highlighted in a Program in Focus episode focused on Agriculture Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) conducted on 15 March 2024 via Google Meet
She furthered that the program aims to equip, strengthen, and empower them toward sustainability of commercializing mature technologies.
The presentation outlined the bureau’s financial investment; number and types of projects funded in national, regional, and agency levels; and problems and challenges based from reviews and on-site monitoring as well as best practices and recommendations from focal persons and implementers.
In partnership with 18 implementing agencies, a total of 26 research for development (R4D) projects were supported by the bureau from 2016-2023. These projects include the conduct of assessment and feasibility study, and establishment as well as implementation of TBI.
As among the successful implementers, ATBI programs of Capiz State University (CapSU) and DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC) were also highlighted in the presentation.
CapSU’s Agribusiness Incubator currently offers innovation and technology support; knowledge and technology transfer; business development services; networking and partnership; infrastructure and administrative support; and financial services to technology generators, agribusiness owners, students, and farmer cooperatives and associations.
Meanwhile, DA-CVRC’s ADePT-TBI, the first DA-RFO-operated TBI in the country, has already transferred a total of 12 mature food processing and farm production technologies since 2021; and provided more than 40 training sessions and capacity-building to its incubatees.
Anchored on the DA’s Inclusive Agribusiness program, the ATBI focuses primarily on increasing the capacities of R4D-based incubators in managing agriculture and fisheries technology-based enterprises.
Now on its fourth leg, Program Monitoring, Evaluation, and Linkaging Division (PMELD) conducted the said activity, in an effort to improve the processes and strategies employed by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) from grants provision, monitoring and evaluation, and technology transfer