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NEWS & EVENTS

Jan 28, 2021

BAR supports smart cultivation technologies to expand urban agriculture

Following the directions and strategies of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar to continuously make the agri-fishery sector resilient under the New Normal, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), support the establishments of smart cultivation technologies producing crops all-year-round suitable for urban setting.On January 28, during the 91st Founding Anniversary of DA-BPI, Secretary Dar led the groundbreaking of controlled environment agriculture technologies, namely: Smart Green House and Indoor Cultivation System, both of which are part of BPI’s “Surviving and Rebooting Agriculture in the City as Urban Farming” project. Both cultivation technologies use controlled microclimate conditions suitable for growing crops all-year-round They also make use of vacant indoor spaces productive making them suitable urban areas producing crops that are fresh and pesticide-free. Secretary Dar, in his speech, instructed DA-BPI to include community gardening in various schools, barangays, and subdivisions nationwide as it expands the implementation of DA’s urban agriculture under the umbrella Plant, Plant, Plant program.He added that urban agriculture is one way to mitigate high food prices by providing Filipino households with fresh vegetables produced right in their backyard and community gardens. It is also an effective strategy to improve food availability and accessibility and attain food security.Also inaugurated were the Tissue Culture Laboratory and National Mushroom Culture Laboratory and Training Facility.The Tissue Culture Laboratory, funded by DA-BAR, serves as an in-vitro gene bank to ensure the production of clean, quality, and disease-free planting materials of different high-value crops through rapid multiplication.While the Mushroom Culture Laboratory is established to ensure the production of high-quality mushroom cultures and planting spawns.

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Jan 08, 2021

Director Mamaril lays down marching orders for 2021

Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril, director of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) emphasized the bureau’s critical role as the national research for development (R4D) coordinating agency of DA in not just making research happen but also putting these researches in a farm-level application. This he stated during the conducted DA-BAR Annual Review and Planning Workshop on 7-8 January 2021 in Diliman, Quezon City to assess past strategies and formulate action plans under a new management.So, to ensure continuous operation amidst current health crisis, Director Mamaril discussed salient points to consider which include continuous monitoring and implementation of R4D projects, judicious fund utilization, transition of the bureau into the three-divisional set-up, and aligning the bureau’s goals and activities to the Agriculture Secretary’s One DA approach. With this, Director Mamaril, also acknowledged the staff bureau for their relentless efforts and support to the activities and programs of DA-BAR. Furthermore, to supplement the director’s orders and keep the bureau abreast of the Secretary’s directives and thrusts, DA-BAR assistant director Joell Lales gave an overview of the One DA Approach and the 3R Framework. He included the discussion on what the bureau can consider during the preparation for the New Normal R4D Agenda.Updates and upcoming initiatives for the 2021 first quarter were also laid out by the bureau’s division and unit heads: Raymond Patrick Cabrera for Research Program Development Division; Anthony Obligado for Research Coordination Division; Salvacion Ritual for the Knowledge Management and Information Systems Division; Judith Maghanoy for the Budget Unit; and Roberto Quing Jr. for the Accounting Unit. 

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Jan 28, 2021

CLSU develops test kits for ASF monitoring

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) shows its support by allocating Php 40-M for the development of intensified diagnostic strategies including mass production of rapid test kits for the African Swine Fever (ASF) monitoring. This is part of the Php 80-M commitment of the Department through the DA-National Livestock Program (NLP) and DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in line with the instructions of Agriculture Secretary William Dar to elevate and accelerate the DA’s effort in combatting ASF.Deemed as ASF Virus Nanogold Biosensor, the test kits can be used as rapid screening test for ASF biosecurity, monitoring, and surveillance in the country at a much cheaper and faster rate. Dr. Clarissa Yvonne J. Domingo of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) developed the technology in partnership with DA-BAI. Further aimed to revive the hog industry, these ASF Virus Nanogold Biosensor Test Kits are to be utilized as component activities by the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” (BABay ASF) Program of DA.A meeting vis-à-vis the research for development (R4D) project on the development of intensified diagnostic strategies including mass production of rapid test kits for ASF were attended by various officials and staff from CLSU, DA-BAI, DA-NLP, DA-National Meat Inspection Services, DA Biotech Program Office, and DA-BAR on 28 January 2021 via video conferencing. For sustainability of the project, DA-NLP already have developed the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” budget for 2022-2023 in order to ensure the availability of test kits, as well as other polymerase chain reaction tests, hence, continue the surveillance and control of ASF. “There should be a proper documentation and monitoring relative to the technology assessment of the kits, as well as a safety and efficacy assurance from DA-BAI,” DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril said as regards to the investment that will be done by the bureau. Meanwhile, DA-BAR Research Program Development Division head Raymond Patrick L. Cabrera mentioned that proposal should also provide plans on the commercialization and sustainability of the technology, and not only on the mass production