The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), together with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), co-hosted the 1st DOST-DA Technology Transfer Forum via Cisco Webex and Facebook livestream on 30 September 2021.
Serving as a platform for technology developers and potential investors to engage in knowledge exchange about science and technology and research for development-supported breakthroughs of DOST and DA, the forum covered eight farm machineries and 11 food-related technologies.
With the goal of making the country an innovation achiever, DOST secretary Dr. Fortunato Dela Peña highlighted that “if you want to help the country, make a mark in the global innovation landscape. Choose a Filipino invention and invest on our local technologies. These are extraordinary times and we must take extraordinary actions to collaborate, to help out, and to rebuild our economy [and] our science and technology creations.”
Examples of farm machineries to possibly invest on include multi-purpose seeder, rice transplanter attachment, local riding-type rice transplanter, rice combine harvester, rice harvester attachment, adlay milling machine, greenhouse solar dryer for food grade cassava, and compact corn mill.
Food-related technologies, on the other hand, include chevon valley canned products, chevon products in retort pouch, goat products, tilapia ice cream, gracilaria seaweed products, products from cacao wastes by-products, vacuum-fried jackfruit, various mungbean food products, batuan various products, nipa-based products, and queen pineapple products.
The business pitches of the 19 generators highlighted target market, business model, roadmap and traction, marketing and sales, and financials, among others.
During his opening message, DA secretary Dr. William Dar commended the technology developers as relentless partners towards a technology-empowered agriculture and fishery sector contributory to inclusive growth. He also encouraged the private sectors and budding agripreneurs to assist the DA and DOST in bringing the technologies to their intended users.
“Indeed, these innovations serve as a testament that our initiatives paved the way for their ventures and success. With all these collaborative efforts, I am hoping that they will widen the network of our beneficiaries as we connect the potential investors and collaborators from our network,” DOST Undersecretary for R&D Rowena Cristina Guevara emphasized.
Participated by DOST-PCAARRD and DA-BAR officials and staff led by executive director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora and director Dr. Vivencio Mamaril, technology inventors, evaluators, and potential investors, among others—the total number of participants in Cisco Webex and Facebook livestream is 1,117 and 6,217, respectively.