KABACAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The Soccsksargen Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC) urged its member institutions to collaborate on research, development, innovation, and technology transfer in the Soccsksargen region this year.
This call for collaboration aims to enhance the region’s capacity for economic growth and sustainable development by pooling the resources and expertise of consortium member institutions (CMI) to address local challenges more effectively and foster a culture of innovation.
Consortium Director Julius Jerome Ele emphasized the CMIs’ crucial role in conducting research to tackle current issues and enhance Filipinos’ quality of life.
“SOXAARRDEC is built on partnerships, trust, alliances, and good relations. Aimed at empowering our networks, SOXAARRDEC has forged new linkages and maintained its long-standing partnerships,” he emphasized during the recent celebration of SOXAARRDEC’s 37th founding anniversary.
Meanwhile, in his Ulat Tagumpay, Ele highlighted the consortium’s accomplishments in the last two years, noting the contributions of the CMIs in the realization of programs for the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
“In two years, we have generated 45 technologies,” the director said, adding that these technologies ushered in progress.
Some of these technologies are a fungal formulation to fight leaf fall disease in rubber, a semi-automated cacao roaster, the formulation and preparation of seagrape crackers, a product and method for preserving quail eggs using salt solution, and the process of adding mangosteen rind powder to the diets of broiler chickens.
The consortium collaborated with policymakers to develop and implement policies that provide scientific and research-based findings and references, in addition to the technologies.
Moreover, Ele said that as part of the consortium’s research and development results and utilization initiatives, “we have participated in and organized 23 international, national, and regional exhibits, fairs, conferences, and fora.”
He said these initiatives helped formulate technology transfer, including the campaign to raise awareness and prevent a disaster.
The official also announced the impending implementation of four newly approved projects under the Coconut Hybridization Program.
Two of the projects are working on making a guide for managing soil and water to improve the quality and production of coconut hybrid nuts. The projects also include looking into how plant growth regulators can help improve the production of hybrid nuts in dwarf coconuts and coming up with the best ways to treat the coconut inflorescence to make hybridization work better.
In addition, the SOXAARRDEC ICT infrastructure is also underway.
Each of the projects is funded with P5 million from the Department of Science and Technology—Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development.
“We have conquered 2023 and 2024, full of triumphs and celebrations. For 2025 and the years to come, I am optimistic that bigger things are going to happen for SOXAARRDEC and everyone who is at the receiving end of our services,” Ele told consortium members. (SJDM – PIA Region 12)
