Ambassador Ali Asghar Mohammadi of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Manila visited the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently.
The visit was part of his rounds to research institutions in Los Baños, including the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in connection with the Philippine-Iran Collaboration.
Welcoming the visiting dignitaries, PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora expressed the Council’s intention for a strengthened Philippine-Iran partnership and collaboration. He thanked Iran for its commitment to a more tangible and beneficial research and development (R&D) and science and technology (S&T) collaboration with the Philippines in the future.
Dr. Leah Buendia, Director of the Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division (PCMD) explained PCAARRD’s mandate and its role in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources research and development.
Dr. Edwin Villar, Deputy Executive Director for R&D, presented the PCAARRD Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) and some of the Council’s R&D collaboration initiatives with Iran’s Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute.
The Philippine-Iran Collaboration, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Scientific and Technical Cooperation on research and training on biotechnology, nanotechnology and nano-biotechnology was officially signed in Tehran, Iran last May 2015. This was in conjunction with Dr. Ebora’s participation to the 9th National and the 1st International Biotechnology Congress hosted by the ABRII.
