The Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) and DOST Region XI inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Davao for the establishment of the Davao Food Terminal Complex (DFTC) as a packaging technology transfer hub for agricultural produce in Mindanao.

Funded under the DOST Smart Food Value Chain Program, the project aims to upgrade the existing post-harvest and packaging technology of fruits and vegetables at DFTC to reduce its handing damage and spoilage by 20 percent.

"Through DFTC, farmers will be able to directly sell their products to supermarkets, hotels, convenience stores, and fast-food chains and increase their income by 20 to 30 percent by enhancing the quality of products and reducing spoilage of whole and semi-processed commodities like mango, pomelo, papaya, lettuce, broccoli, and carrots," DOST said.

The DOST is set to provide a total of P4.3 million funding support or technologies and interventions, such as transport packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, post-harvest treatment, semi-processing, and design and branding.

“Any packaging system should complement the appropriate logistical operation to ensure that the products reach their prime quality with the most economical cost; complementing and improving the facilities and services of the DFTC as a techno-transfer hub, not only to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID -19 but more so, to contribute to the food security in Region XI,” DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones said.

In 2019, the Department of Agriculture XI and Davao City LGU jointly opened the P74.8-million DFTC in Barangay Daliao, Toril, which serves as a major drop-off point of various agricultural produce and trading center.