The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been urged to spearhead the promotion of consumption of locally produced plant-based healthy food to help reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the environment, to strengthen the economy, and improve natural body defenses against infection.

This is one of the policy recommendations arrived at during the last leg of the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL). The “NAST 43rd ASM Resolutions” were presented by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya.

Montoya said the 43rd ASM, which serves as the leading forum for the presentation of scientific and policy research, called on the DSWD as leading agency to “promote consumption of locally-produced plant based healthy food, including functional foods to reduce environmental footprint, boost the local economy, and improve natural body defences against infection through the use of a science-based diet, such as planetary health diet.”

Aside from the DSWD, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DEpEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were also urged to promote a science-based diet.

The science-based diet should serve “as a guide for disaster relief and feeding programs; and food systems as the overarching guide in school feeding programs and curricular revisions; and as a guide in formulating menus for canteens, hospitals and combat food rations of the DND and the PNP,” read the

The ASM also called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to improve people's access to affordable and nutritious food.

The DA was also urged to “establish a resilient local food system by providing facilities for storage, processing, packing, and logistics to service population centers, with emphasis on nutritious but highly perishable food products such as fish, and other seafoods, fruits and vegetables.

The country’s researchers and scientists asked the DA, along with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to establish food terminals, and/or business corridors; improve farm to market roads, sea ports, and airports to facilitate movement of food; and harmonise policies and regulations on the marketing and movement of truckers and transportation of food commodities.

The DA and state universities and colleges were also asked to "promote farm and aquaculture diversification using locally adapted and preferred foods such as root and tuber crops as alternative staple and seaweeds to support local farmers, health diets, and stewardship of the environment.”

The ASM cited the need to establish diversified demonstration farms and aquaculture projects, prioritize diversified farms in credit program and establish research programs to support farm and aquaculture diversification.

NAST PHL, an attached agency of the DOST, is the country’s premier recognition and advisory body on science and technology (S&T).

It also provides advice on matters related to science and technology in the country and engages in projects and programs designed to promote scientific productivity and science culture in the Philippines and facilitate collaboration and communication with international scientific academies.