The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST PCAARRD) has laid down its P402-billion research and development agenda for 2022 to 2028.
DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora presented the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Sector during the second leg of the 6th National Research and Development Conference (NRDC) on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
“The estimated funding requirement of the R&D Agenda for 2022–2028 amounts to a total of P402 billion,” he said in his presentation during the virtual conference.
He said funds will come from the concerned agencies annual general appropriations, R&D allocations from policy pronouncements and intra-government agreement with the National Security Council on marine research, and grants from international R&D organizations.
“The amount to fund the AANR (agriculture, aquatic, natural resources) R&D agenda might be overwhelming, but it is a small price to pay considering the benefits that will be gained from it — food and economic security and a sustainable natural resources and environment,” Ebora said.
He said the R&D Agenda will serve as a guide to the national R&D system in formulating programs and/or projects on AANR development; encourage complementary and relevant collaborations and partnerships; mobilize and ensure effective and efficient use of resources; and provide a framework for R&D capacity and expertise development.
“The R&D Agenda adopts the whole-of-government approach wherein it shall be a joint undertaking of public agencies involved in the development of the AANR sector. It also supports all current strategies and/or initiatives of concerned government agencies.”
Ebora said the R&D Agenda primarily advocates for “smart, green and science and technology-based” Agriculture 4.0 and will support Farming, Biotechnology and genomics sciences, Frontier technologies, and Farm mechanization.
“All things considered, the R&D agenda supports initiatives to promote regional AANR productivity, competitiveness and sustainability in order to engender human, environmental, and economic resilience.”
Specific plans for the crops, livestock, aquatic, forestry, natural resources and environment subsectors are included in the R&D Agenda
The agenda also provides direction for cross-cutting concerns such as: Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Technology Transfer Socioeconomics Policy and Governance, and and Human Capital Systems.
The PCAARRD chief said the R&D agenda in the crops subsector are the following:
-Germplasm evaluation, conservation, utilization and management;
-Varietal improvement and selection;
-Production of certified good quality seeds and planting materials;
-Cultural management practices (pest, water, soil and nutrient management;
-Crop production systems; and
-Postharvest, primary processing and product development
For the livestock subsector, the R&D agenda includes:
-Breed development and genetic improvement;
-Reproductive bio techniques for priority livestock species;
-Nutrition, feeds and feeding system;
-Conservation and improvement of native animals;
-Vaccine, biologics and diagnostics development;
-Food quality and safety assurance;
-Disease control and anti-microbial resistance management;
-Production and management decision support systems; and
-Product development and processing
The aquatic R&D agenda are the following:
-Application of genomics in the study of diseases of aquatic species and fish resistance to climate change; molecular phylogenetics; population genetics;
-Physiological and ecological studies of aquatic species;
-New species for culture;
-Culture systems (broodstock management, hatchery, nursery, grow-out);
-Fish health, disease diagnostics and disease management;
-Nutrition, feeds and feeding system;
-Postharvest handling, processing and new product development;
-Mechanization and automated systems for feeding, water and culture management, and post production;
-Fish kill warning and mitigation systems; and
-Production and management decision support systems
In forestry, the R&D agenda are:
-Physiological and ecological studies;
-Varietal improvement of priority agroforestry/non-timber and forestry species;
-Sustainable production, management and processing of priority agroforestry/non-timber and forestry species;
-Innovative product development; and
-Decision support systems
In natural resources and environment, the agenda includes:
-Conservation, sustainable utilization, and management of biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems;
-Sustainable inland and coastal watershed management and utilization;
-Management and rehabilitation of degraded and polluted agricultural soils;
-High-value product development from agricultural and forests wastes;
-Strategies/decision management tools for climate change resilient environment;
-Resource and ecosystems assessment and monitoring;
-Habitat management for fishery and ecosystem sustainability;
-Marine environmental management (Harmful Algal Blooms, coastal integrity/erosion and eutrophication);
-Fishkill warning and mitigation systems;
-Innovative management systems for unique landscapes and ecosystems; and
-Ecotourism management