Greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields can now be measured more precisely following the establishment of a Japan-backed gas chromatography laboratory at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Dr. Kristine S. Pascual, project lead, said the facility is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to analyze methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide released under different rice crop management practices, including alternate wetting and drying technology.
“The gas chromatography laboratory is established to enable high-resolution separation and quantification of gaseous and volatile compounds,” she said.
Pascual also said the data generated by the facility will help improve the accuracy of emissions monitoring and guide strategies that reduce environmental impact while sustaining yield.
The laboratory will also support monitoring, reporting, and verification systems for carbon credit mechanisms in line with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, generating science-based recommendations for farmers and future climate-related initiatives.
The project is implemented through PhilRice’s partnership with Faeger Co., Ltd. under a memorandum of agreement, with support from Yanmar Corporation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
PhilRice officials joined representatives from partner institutions during the inauguration, including Kazuki Sakamoto of Faeger Co., Ltd.; Tatsuru Matsuda and Christian Navarette of Yanmar Philippines; Toshihisa Hasegawa and Yamaguchi Katsura of JICA Philippines; and Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, PhilRice deputy executive director for research.
