Tarlac Agricultural University Initiates 1st International Agriculture, Biosystems and Technology (ABT) Conference

Notwithstanding the pandemic, the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) facilitated this year’s first ever International Agriculture, Biosystems and Agriculture (ABT) Conference with theme “Scaling Up Innovative Solutions for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation” via Zoom last July 22-23, 2021.

According to University President Dr. Max P. Guillermo, agricultural innovation has long way to go and the ABT Conference is the academe’s effort to propel this undertaking. In a message, Dr. Guillermo stressed, “The agriculture sector still has a long way to go and innovative and aggressive efforts are needed to promote agriculture as a lucrative endeavour. The 1st ABT Conference is an effort of the Tarlac Agricultural University in cognizant to this advocacy.”

The two-day conference aimed to assemble researchers, young scientists, academicians, and other stakeholders in a forum to highlight the scaling of their leading-edge agricultural innovations that will empower farmers to engage in transformational technologies as the key to farm level profitability, generation of sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems and technologies, and linking farmers to market through productive alliances.

Not limited by distance, the ABT Conference was joined by almost 200 participants coming from several nations such as India, Nigeria, Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Venezuela, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Thailand.

The following were the Best Poster and Best Paper Awardees:

BEST POSTER

Genome-specific Microsatellite Markers for Cytogenomics Research in Brassica and Raphanus Hybrids

by: Nomar Espinosa Waminal* and Nicole Bon Campomayor

BEST POSTER - 1st Runner Up

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

by: REYNRO TUMANGAN HERRERA

BEST POSTER - 2nd Runner Up

Insecticidal Effect of Hydro Methanolic Extract of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) Against Stored Food Pests

by: HAFFARI. Faouzia, BOUALEM. Malika, BERGHEUL. Saida, BABBA. lssam, TOUHARI . Merouane, BOUZID. Nassima, BOUZEBOUDJA. lmen, HOUIDEF. Djamila & HARRATS. Hanane

BEST PAPER – Agriculture Cluster

“Enhancing the Yield of Rice and Corn Using Field-Specific Crop Production Management Recommendations in Selected Areas in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines”

by: Leonie Consabo

BEST PAPER – Bioscience Cluster

“Congruence of DNA Barcodes and Leaf Geometric Morphometrics in Discriminating the Five Philippine Fagaceae Species”

by: Eva Joie Amestoso

BEST PAPER – Biosystems and Technology Cluster

“Growth and Yield of Green-leaf Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Produced in Vertical Aeroponic System with Root Zone Cooling”

by: Maribel B. Peneyra

BEST PAPER – Young Scientist Forum

“Spiny Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus L.) as Alternative Food Source in Developing Countries”

by: Marie Rose A. Bonifacio

Several partner agencies of TAU also expressed their congratulations and support such as Mr. Charles Hopkins, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair from York University, Canada; Dr. Fortunato T. Dela Peña, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo, Executive Director, Philippine Carabao Center.

The ABT Conference is a by-product of the collaborative efforts of the TAU’s Department of Research and Development (TAU-DRD) with Dr. Maria Elena T. Caguioa spearheading and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension and Training (OVPRET) under the leadership of Dr. Ma. Asuncion G. Beltran. (NMallari, DRD)