To acquire knowledge in the use of probiotics and prebiotics in aquaculture, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Global Technology Search (GTS) team visited Japan.
The GTS team, composed of Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez, Director of the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD)-PCAARRD and Dr. Rosalie R. Rafael of the Freshwater Aquaculture Center of CLSU (FAC-CLSU), visited Kagoshima University, Nagasaki University, and Mie University in Japan on September 26 to October 7, 2016. Dr. Rafael is the project leader of the DOST-PCAARRD-funded project, Advances on the Fermentation Process and Application of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Aquaculture.
During the visit, the GTS team interviewed Dr. Shunsuke Koshio, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of Kagoshima University as well as other professors and students. The interview was conducted to acquire knowledge on probiotics and prebiotics as functional feed additives as the Faculty of Fisheries of Kagoshima University conduct research on the said topic.
The incorporation of probiotics in feeds yields better growth and improves health.
Meanwhile, the GTS team also identified Dr. Katsuyasu Tachibana, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of Nagasaki University and other professors as key informants. The university conducts studies on settlement mechanism of marine invertebrates, biofuelers, dietary effect of dried algae in short-necked clam, and larval settlement of oysters.
Lastly, the GTS team interviewed Dr. Takao Yoshimatsu, Dean of the Graduate School of Bioresources of Mie Unviersity as well as Ph.D. candidates and professors from the said university. The university conducts studies on dairy fermentation technology used in the formulation of fish feed. Result of these studies showed that solid or liquid probiotics have positive effect on the growth of fingerlings.
The visit equipped the team with knowledge on the production, feed formulation, sources, and application of probiotics and prebiotics for aquaculture application in the Philippine setting. These learnings will be used to further improve the PCAARRD-CLSU project on probiotics and prebiotics for the benefit of research’s end-users, particularly tilapia farmers.