USM produces new chemists and chemical technicians, one ranks 9th in the Chemical Technician Licensure Examination
November 15, 2021
SOXAARRDEC holds KM Training
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Science for Change Program has identified the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) as the Niche Center in the Regions (NICER) for cacao R&D. DOST has recently provided a research grant to USM for the establishment of the NICER: Cacao R&D Center with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) as the monitoring agency. NICER: Cacao R&D Center was formally launched last August 27, 2021, with more than 70 participants nationwide from various agencies and institutions. The event was graced by Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development of DOST, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, and Dr. Francisco Gil N. Garcia, USM President. The NICER: Cacao R&D Center was featured in the DOST-sponsored national Virtual Press Conference on “Regional Resiliency: Equipping Agriculture for the Future” on September 14, 2021 via Zoom and FB streaming.
There is a need to establish a Cacao R&D Center to boost the cacao industry in the country attributed to the worldwide demand of cacao beans. Although the Philippines is highly suitable for cacao production geographically, there are several constraints in cacao production and postharvest processing affecting yield and quality of cacao beans, which need R&D interventions.
USM strongly fits to host the NICER: Cacao R&D Center since it is the center for cacao genetic diversity in the Philippines and is located near the major cacao growing regions in Mindanao. It is also active in research, development, and extension particularly in cacao breeding, production, processing, and product development. USM is an ISO-certified university and a Center for Excellence in Agriculture. It has also strong manpower and sufficient laboratories and facilities that ensure delivery of expected outputs.
NICER: Cacao R&D Center aims to develop relevant and functional R&D projects based on the needs and problems faced by cacao industry to help provide interventions for the benefit of various cacao stakeholders. Currently, three projects are implemented, which address the needs and gaps in cacao industry such as scarcity of certified true-to-type quality planting materials (QPMs) of NSIC recommended varieties and true Criollo cacao types; narrow genetic diversity for cacao breeding; and the lack of efficient post-harvest technologies to improve quality of cacao beans and bean products. These projects provide interventions and solutions such as molecular fingerprinting of cacao parental high-yielding varieties and Criollo cacao for QPM multiplication to increase productivity and profitability; upgrading of cacao gene bank for conservation and management in cacao varietal improvement; and the development of optimized post-harvest processing approaches for improved quality of cacao beans. The program is headed by Dr. Edward A. Barlaan with Dr. Gwen Iris D. Empleo and Engr. Renel M. Alucilja as project leaders.
The Center is actively involved with the government and private sectors to help boost the cacao industry. These include the Department of Trade and Industries, Department of Agriculture Philippine Cacao Industry Council, state and private universities, international organizations, cacao-related group chats, cacao nursery
operators, growers, farmers, processors, and other stakeholders.
