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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider IPB to hold its first-ever international plant breeding conference

IPB to hold its first-ever international plant breeding conference

Published Jun 22, 2025 02:26 pm

At A Glance

  • With the theme "IPB Golden Jubilee: Celebrating Milestones, Innovating Pathways in Plant Breeding", the two-day activity that will be held at The Manila Hotel June 26 and 27 was initiated by the the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) under the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) as part of its 50th founding anniversary celebration.
IPB to hold its first-ever International Plant Breeding Conference
The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) will hold its first-ever International Plant Breeding Conference (IPBC) in a move to foster collaborations, present emerging trends and recent breakthroughs in plant breeding and allied disciplines.
With the theme “IPB Golden Jubilee: Celebrating Milestones, Innovating Pathways in Plant Breeding”, the two-day activity that will be held at The Manila Hotel June 26 and 27 was initiated by the the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) under the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) as part of its 50th founding anniversary celebration.
The two-day scientific conference will bring together esteemed personalities, renowned international and local experts, researchers, academicians, industry leaders and representatives, agencies, and other partners involved in plant breeding research and development, plant germplasm conservation and utilization, and propagation of improved varieties.
The event also aims to exchange knowledge and ignite discussions that will help shape the future of plant breeding globally, locally, and specifically for IPB for the next 50 years.
For presenters to have an enhanced understanding of plant breeding in the Philippine setting, the conference will be preceded by a two-day tour of IPB, IRRI, and East-West Seed Company as major players in the country’s plant breeding.
The speakers
The experts will provide keynote and thematic presentations.
For the first day, a keynote address will be delivered by Hon. Renato U. Solidum Jr., Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), while Dr. Howarth E. Bouis, 2016 World Food Prize Laureate and Emeritus Fellow of the International Food Policy Research Institute of CGIAR; Dr. David J. Mackill, Adjunct Professor from the University of California; Dr. Davis Jose X. Chaparro, Associate Professor from the University of Florida; and Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang, Scientist and former Director of IPB, will present innovative breeding for resilient, nutritious, and sustainable crops.
Advances in breeding technologies will be tackled by Dr. Lee T. Hickey, Professor at
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland; Dr. Ajay Kumar, Deputy Head of Research and Development at Bioseed Research India; Dr. Suresh B. Kadaru, Lead of the Medium Maturity Rice Breeding Program at the International Rice Research Institute.
The most-awaited Gala Night, the “KatHABI: Textile Innovation Fashion Show x IPB Abaca Hybrid”, will proceed right after the conference, featuring 70 stunning looks where models will be dressed in apparel made from Philippine tropical fabrics–a blend of sustainable cotton, pineapple, and a special abaca hybrid developed by IPB in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI).
The garments, designed by renowned Filipino fashion designers, showcase that these fibers can be used in commercial textile applications both in the local and global arena.
The IPB- developed abaca hybrid will also be launched with a new name, and hopes to engage stakeholders’ support on the development of indigenous fibers and local industries.
On the second day, Dr. Ronnie W. Coffman, International Professor Emeritus of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University, will be the keynote speaker.
Dr. Maarten van Zonneveld, Head of the Genetic Resources and Seed Unit of World Vegetable Center and Dr. Julian F. Gonsalves, Senior Program Adviser of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, will share their expertise and insights on genetic resources and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc, Head of Partnerships and Alliances at East-West Seed Company; Dr. Manuel L. Logroño, President and Founder of Maize Life and Farming Sciences and IPB Consultant; and Dr. Raymond F. Bader, IPB Consultant, will lead the session on strengthening collaboration in plant breeding and seed industry development.
Moderating the plenary sessions are: Dr. Violeta N. Villegas, IPB Director (1997-2001); Dr. John C. de Leon, Executive Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute; Dr. Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines, IPB Deputy Director (1985-1991), and UPLB Professor Emeritus; and Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Special Assistant to the Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Dean of UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (2021 - March 2025).
Dr. Conrado H. Balatero, Interim Chief Innovation Officer at East West Seed Company, and Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, Undersecretary (2022-2024) of the Department of Agriculture, will also join as panelists.
The partners
The expert-studded International Plant Breeding Conference is co-organized by UPLB, CAFS, DOST, DOST-PTRI, DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), NAST, SEARCA, The Manila Hotel, and Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc.; sponsored by Del Monte, Philippines, Inc., Bayer CropScience Inc., Syngenta, and AgriSpecialist; and advertised by the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA), Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds Corp., SL Agritech, Ramgo, Mama Sita Foundation and Nicolie Enterprise.
IPB’s media partner is the Manila Bulletin.
There will also be exhibitors during the event to showcase their products and technologies, such as the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), SeedWorks Philippines, Inc., Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, and Yana Chemodities, Inc., among others.
Through this scientific conference, participants are expected to bolster and cultivate
professional connections, while exploring potential partnerships with scientists, industry
delegates, and funding agencies, and to bring home and apply the knowledge they gain from diverse perspectives to advance plant breeding in their respective institutions, contributing to agricultural development.
The IPBC will conclude the institute’s anniversary celebration, which began in March 2025. As mandated by Presidential Decree 729, IPB is committed to develop new and improved varieties of important agricultural crops, conserve and manage plant genetic resources, undertake investigations relevant to plant breeding and crop improvement, and help stakeholders scale up the production of high-quality seeds and planting materials.
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