Three teams of PhilRice experts won awards in the 46th Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) Scientific Conference held in General Santos City, June 13-18.
The study titled Potential of Algae as Aquaculture Feed Ingredient won the Best Paper award for downstream category. It was authored by researchers from the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division (RCFSD) of PhilRice, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR-NFFTC), and the Institute of Biological Sciences – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IBS-UPLB).
“Algae is abundant in bodies of water such as in ponds and rice paddies. But it is often neglected and underutilized,” said Evelyn Bandonill, main author.
The study has shown feasibility of mixing algae in aquaculture feeds and recommended further research on the “economic viability of manufacturing algal-incorporated animal feed” that can potentially increase farmers’ income.
Meanwhile, the Best Poster for downstream category was awarded to the study Suitability of Adlai in Complementing Rice as Staple Food. With the aim to help achieve rice self-sufficiency through alternative staple, RCFSD researchers Henry Mamucod, Amelia Morales, Rosaly Manaois, and Marissa Romero explored the potential of adlai, an indigenous food crop, as a complementing staple food to rice.
The study showed that ginampay, a variety of adlai, can be a good source of carbohydrates substituting rice at 50:50 ratio while providing the consumer the same eating satisfaction and higher amount of protein and fats.
On the other hand, researchers from the FutureRice Program won the Best Poster in the technology extension, dissemination, and education category. The researchers explored the challenges and opportunities of building a rice agri-tourism farm in line with the recently signed Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016. The team is composed of Jan Lois Zippora Libed, Roger Barroga, Marian Rikka Anora, and Nehemiah Caballong.
The team has integrated recreational facilities, hands-on experience, and educational facilities in the 5-ha FutureRice farm. It was also the site where “AlDub Rice” was created as a form of rice paddy art. The farm was formally opened April this year and has stirred public interest on rice innovations.
PhilRice delegation joined over 200 crop science researchers, academicians, development professionals, and students from public and private institutions in the CSSP with this year’s theme, Empowering Crop Scientists for ASEAN Leadership.
