Batangas-based writer Marcial “Macay” Enginco is constantly worried about the environment. From climate change to decreasing forest coverage, Macay is worried how all these bad news can impact the Philippines. As a plant enthusiast, he is particularly concerned how these developments can affect...
Plant lovers rejoice! The National Cactus and Succulent Organization of the Philippines, Inc., in cooperation with the Quezon City Government and Quezon City Memorial Circle present All About Plants, a plant fair to be held in the Runnex Elevated Garden of the Quezon Memorial Circle from...
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on nearly all industries, including agriculture. Despite the difficulties, the native chicken sector has proven its resiliency and competitiveness over the past few years. Image by Andreas Göllner from Pixabay. This is why the Department of...
Sugar in the Philippines is usually made from sugarcane. Though it comes from a plant, sugar is surprisingly not vegan most of the time. This is particularly true for white sugar, which is the most common type of sugar used in cooking and baking. The reason why white sugar is usually not...
By Jerome Sagcal Cupping is the process of evaluating a batch of coffee. This process is used by farmers, roasters, farm cooperatives, and culinarians to not only appreciate coffee, but also to review the results of their processing, explore potential products, and review the quality of their...
By Julius Barcelona It would be reasonable to assume that you, dear reader, have encountered the telltale signs of a leaf miner infestation: the white scars snaking around the leaves of our crops. The tell-tale sign of a leaf miner infestation, the winding tunnel “mined” out by the leaf miner...
Cacao is a high-value crop that can be made into various products, with chocolates, chocolate powder, and tablea being the most common ones. In the Philippines, the major producer of cacao is the Davao Region, producing 80.6 percent share of the country’s total cacao production in 2021. ...
A contender for the world’s largest potato could have taken the record if it was only really a potato. DNA testing showed that the supposed potato was actually something of a mix between a tuber and gourd. The supposed potato was unearthed in a garden by a couple from Hamilton, New Zealand in...
Every April, the Philippines celebrates Filipino Food Month (FFM) or Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino not just to preserve, promote, and support Filipino cuisine and culinary heritage, but also to give thanks to our local food producers. This year’s celebration is spearheaded by the Department of...
When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, farmer-veterinarian Mykhailo Travetsky was given two choices — to leave the country with his family or to stay behind. Travetsky chose the latter. This is because leaving the country also meant leaving behind 35 cows at his farm in Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast....
By Jerome Sagcal Women in agribusiness who are seeking to expand their enterprise may take advantage of a support program by the Women's Business Council. Photo by Ken Tomita from Pexels. The Women's Business Council, or WomenBizPH, is offering assistance to women-owned small and medium-sized...
CRISPR is a tool that allows scientists to splice and edit the DNA of any organism. The applications of this technology are almost limitless. On March 7, 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved food products from two CRISPR-edited cattle and their offspring. The agency deemed that...
