The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently served as panelist in the 47th episode of DOST report hosted by DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
The episode tackled the DOST Smart Food Value Chains Program (SFVC), an integrated program amongst multiple DOST agencies including Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), DOST Regional Offices, and the private sector.
SFVC program aims to provide innovative solutions to different nodes of the value chain—from input sourcing to retailing—and ultimately, help address food security concerns in the country.
Representing PCAARRD in the episode is Mia Barbara D. Aranas, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD). Aranas guested alongside PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, ITDI Food Processing Division Chief Dr. Norberto G. Ambangan, and DOST Regional Office 2 Director Sancho A. Mabborang.
Aranas explained the different types of upgrading (e.g. product, process, functions, and overall chain) that will form part of the key intervention models of the SFVC Program. Product upgrading refers to the technical assistance that will be key to developing new products in response to existing and emerging market demands. Examples are development of shelf-stable and nutritious agricultural food products.
Smart technologies and other packages of technologies developed through DOST funding were also highlighted as these will comprise the interventions aimed to increase farm productivity, improve quality of primary products, and improve the income of farmers, fisherfolks, and processors. Such technologies shall be deployed to the primary producers through DOST-PCAARRD’s existing technology transfer modalities like the Community Science and Technology-based Farms and the Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubators.
Ambangan mentioned that there would also be a Smart Modular Mobile Food Processing Facility (SMMFPF) where farmers can process their produce on site or at distribution centers. Paringit, on the other hand, highlighted the role of DOST’s Food Innovation Centers in the regions in providing primary producers access to processing equipment such as vacuum fryer, spray dryer, freeze dryer, and water retort, among others. He also mentioned that under the SFVC, DOST is collaborating with the private sector through Air21 Global and Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) specifically to improve the distribution and retail nodes of the value chains.
For more details about the 47th episode, interested viewers can follow the link: http://bit.ly/DOSTReportEp47.