The Central Mindanao University-Tuklas Lunas Development Center (CMU-TLDC) is stepping up efforts to develop health products from some fern species in Mindanao, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has bared.
“Building on the outputs of their completed DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) funded project, the CMU-TLDC is pursuing the development of health products based on the promising bioactivities and non-toxicities of some fern species in Mindanao,” DOST Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña said in his weekly report on Friday.
He said the CMU-TLDC program aims to mass propagate priority fern species to supply the material needs of the program.
It also seeks to formulate various products including functional food fern ingredient for various food product applications, he added.
"With the developed products and established protocols underway, the program team is working on partnering with the private sector who will adopt the technologies and produce them in commercial form,” dela Peña said.
The DOST Chief noted that currently, two private farms have expressed interest to propagate and produce the priority fern species to supply the industry.
“The CMU administration through its University Income Generation Program (UIGP) has also expressed interest to continue the propagation and maintenance of a one-hectare fern nursery established by the project,” he added.
According to Dela Peña, Intellectual Property (IP) applications have been made for functional food products developed during the first year of implementation.
"Once the development of the functional food products and anti-inflammatory ointment are completed, these technologies are likewise anticipated to be adopted by the food and pharmaceutical industry for further development and commercialization,” he said.