CABI key officials visit BAR

Key officials from the Center for Agricultural and Bioscience International (CABI) paid a visit to the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) as part of their regional tour and to appraise the bureau on CABI’s current programs and initiatives on research and development that might lead to future R & D collaboration. The Philippines is a member of this inter-governmental organization.

The CABI officials were led by Dr. Qiaoqiao Zhang, director for membership; Dr. Loke Wai-Hong, regional director for East and Southeast Asia; and Dr. Philip Abrahams, Business Development Director. On the part of BAR, assistant director Teodoro S. Solsoloy, who welcomed the visiting dignitaries, said their visit to the Philippines will open windows of opportunities for BAR and CABI to collaborate on enhancing agriculture and fisheries R&D.

Other BAR officials include Dr. Carmencita Kagaon, division head, Institutional Development Division (IDD); Mr. Victoriano Guiam, section chief of the Institutional Linkages and Enhancement Section of IDD; and BAR technical staff that included Jennifer Alianza, Maylen Villareal, Cynthia Remedios de Guia, Ryan Joseph Abrigo and Patrick R.A. Lesaca.

The visit of CABI officials focused on the presentation of Mr. Philip Abrahams on CABI’s PlantWise, a global initiative to improve food security and the lives of the rural poor by reducing crop losses. PlantWise was conceptualized in 2009 and is currently being implemented in 15 countries worldwide. According to Mr. Abrahams, through PlantWise, a country can reduce crop losses by collecting and sharing vital information about plant health. With the right knowledge we can identify plant health problems, slow down the spread of plant pests and diseases and provide the correct treatments before yields are significantly affected. CABI PlantWise is also the Centre’s biggest database which is still undergoing prototype testing with launching targeted for 2012. Its information comes from content providers and contributors which can be shared while retaining IP ownership. It has 2 components: the Plant Clinics and the Knowledge Bank

The CABI helps developing countries set up and run independent plant clinics and build plant health networks. These facilities, staffed by trained ‘plant doctors’ with expertise on pests and diseases, help farmers find solutions to their crop health problems. These clinics can help prevent farmers from suffering devastating crop losses. A present task is the production of an interactive plant disease map in which one can see where diseases are prevalent (only where plant clinics are operating). The maps can be a means of anticipating disease problems before they spread.

Dr. Solsoloy asked CABI officials, that being a member country of CABI, what benefits the country can possibly avail of. Dr. Qiaoqiao Zhang explained that as a member country --- the Philippines is eligible to limited free access to CABI’s information products, compendium of pest and diseases, and limited access to databases. Specific to this is the availability of an in-house expertise for free identifications of microbial samples, Dr. Zhang concluded.

Another feature or benefit is the consultancy services where members can avail up to three-day consultancy per year to support the development of policy papers pertaining to Philippine agriculture.

Meanwhile, Dr. Loke also explained the role of CABI in agricultural research and expounded on the activities that their institution does to help alleviate poverty worldwide. CABI is also in the medical field and BAR can nominate a Philippine medical research institution to avail of CABI information in medical research.
CABI and BAR officials further discussed the roles of both institutions in dealing with major issues in agriculture today such as food security and climate change. Patrick RA Lesaca, DA-BAR