The Institute of Plant Breeding is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the theme “IPB Golden Jubilee: Celebrating Milestones, Innovating Pathways in Plant Breeding” this year with various activities.

Among these activities was a Farmers’ Field Day from May 20 to 23 at Pili Drive, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Los Baños, Laguna.

The four-day event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Elmer E. Enicola, IPB director; Virma Rea G. Lee, IPB deputy director; Engr. Emmanuel Q. Amatorio, head of Farmers’ Field Day; Dr. Amado A. Angeles, dean of the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), and Dr. Agham C. Cuevas, vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Cuevas delivered a message in behalf of UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr.

Cuevas highlighted the importance of IPB’s contribution to agricultural development for five decades by continuously developing and improving crop varieties, producing effective technologies based on scientific research, and providing public service to address farmers’ needs across the country.

“Through collaboration, we will be able to establish a bountiful, resilient, and sustainable farming system in our country that can respond to the demands of Filipinos and withstand any challenges that the future may bring because we want our farmers to be future-proof and future-ready,” Cuevas said.

Angeles commended IPB for conducting Farmers’ Field Day. “This event is essential for our college and university to look back at what IPB has done for the past 50 years and the steps ahead to fulfill the needs of our stakeholders. IPB is one of the largest units of CAFS and UPLB that provides agricultural impact to the industry,” he said.

Almost 1,000 individuals, including farmers, representatives from municipal agricultural offices, students, researchers, partners, and other stakeholders from different regions, attended the affair where they had the opportunity to tour a one-hectare field demo.

IPB exhibited standing crops of open-pollinated varieties (OPV) of vegetables (bottle gourd, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, cucumber, eggplant, okra, bush sitao, pole sitao, and tomato), legumes (mungbean and soybean), root crops (sweet potato and cassava), cereals (corn and sorghum), fruits (mango), and ornamentals (vinca and mussaenda), along with some germplasm collections.

These varieties were registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) and IPB Germplasm and Technology Release and Registration Office (GTRRO).

Collaborators Syngenta, SeedWorks Philippines Inc., Enviro, Gemini, GoEden, Harbest, Allied Botanical Corp., Ramgo, Kaneko Seeds Philippines, and AgriSpecialist Inc. showcased their OPV and hybrid crop varieties and various products.

The farmers were able to consult their concerns about plant pests and diseases with experts from IPB and Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHRTC).

Visitors enjoyed the tour and were impressed with the setup.

The Farmers’ Field Day is among the extension programs of IPB, which serves as a venue to further promote agricultural innovations by showcasing the institute’s promising crop varieties and available technologies, allowing the public and invited participants to have a deeper appreciation of the significance of agriculture and their role towards food and nutrition security.

Mandated by Presidential Decree 729, IPB is committed to develop new and improved varieties of important agricultural crops; undertake investigations in plant breeding, crop improvement and other allied disciplines; conserve and manage important and potentially useful agricultural crops through a germplasm bank; and support other agencies in the multiplication and distribution of quality seeds and vegetative materials of recommended crop varieties.

Other activities slated for the event are the IPB 50th anniversary program on June 5 that marks the official commemoration of IPB’s five decades of excellence in plant breeding and crop improvement. The event will feature a formal program, along with the recognition of exemplary IPB staff and long-standing collaborators;

The IPB Fiestahan and Family Day on June 6 that will serve as a festive fellowship night for IPB constituents, alumni, guests, and partners, showcasing cultural and live musical performances.

The International Plant Breeding Conference and Fashion Innovation Show Featuring IPB Abaca Hybrid on June 26 to 27.

This two-day scientific conference will bring together experts, students, and partners to exchange knowledge and present research on cutting-edge developments in plant breeding. The event will begin with a welcome dinner for speakers and organizers on June 25, followed by a fashion innovation show on June 26 that will showcase the IPB abaca hybrid.