Established in 1972, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) is a sectoral council of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and is the apex organization of the Philippine national agricultural research system.

Certified since 2003 as complying with ISO 9001:2000 standards in terms of its quality management system, the first among agencies of the DoST, PCARRD plays a significant role in fostering science and technology (S&T)-based economic development through natural resource utilization and management.

For over three decades now, it has been providing a unified and focused direction for national research and development (R&D) efforts in agriculture, forestry, and natural resources (AFNR).

Over the years, PCARRD has programmed government and external funds for research and development in keeping with its mission to provide central direction in S&T-led production of globally competitive agricultural and forestry products and the protection of biodiversity and the environment.

In celebrating its 37th anniversary today, the PCARRD has selected the theme “Science and Technology: Responding to poverty, progress, and a sustainable environment.” The theme is most relevant as PCARRD could retrace its contribution towards poverty alleviation and economic progress and at the same time emphasize the necessity of addressing the equally formidable challenge posed by climactic change.

In relation to poverty alleviation and progress, PCARRD has spurred dynamism in the regions through its technology transfer and commercialization modality of the Techno Gabay Program (TGP). With three components, namely, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS), the Magsasaka Siyentista, and the S&T-based farms, PCARRD has assisted farmers to increase their productivity and harvest produce that are globally accepted and competitive. The TGP has been complemented with a new technology transfer concept called TechnoMart and the fruits of innovation of TGP partners have been protected through intensified Intellectual Property (IP) management activities. With respect to sustainable development, PCARRD has taken the lead in exploring alternative sources of energy and promoted practices that include conservation farming, organic fertilizers, and clean production technologies.

We congratulate the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development led by Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon on the occasion of its 37th Anniversary. We wish them success in all their endeavors.