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UP scientists say
agricultural biotech BREAKTHROUGHS in the commercialization of biotechnology products have been announced by scientists at the sprawling 77-hectare Agriculture and Life Science Complex at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos. Most of the products that were researched and developed in the biotechnology laboratories at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) and the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) are now commercially available to consumers to help boost the agricultural needs of farmers. “Biotechnology was very instrumental in developing commercially-available products, including the popular virgin coconut oil, a naturally processed product from fresh coconut milk or its derivative,” Dr. Teresita Espino, director of the NIMBB. “Virgin coconut oil is also a very good antimicrobial agent since it contains monoglycerides.” Espino said that monoglyceride is very potent against bacteria, yeasts, protozoa and enveloped viruses (e.g. AIDS, SARS) that cause diseases. Her team of scientists found it rich in lauric acid, which is common in mothers’ milk and helps develop and strengthen the immune system of newborn babies. Commercialy available products: BIO-N – microbial inoculants for sustainable rice and corn production. Mycogroe – mycorrhizal tablet for reforestation species like eucalyptus and pines. Mycovam – soil-based biofertilizer containing vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi used for reforestation species, fruit trees and agricultural crops. NitoPlus – rhizobial inoculants for legumes like mungbean, soybean, peanut and crowpea. Bio-Green and Cocorich – bio-organic fertilizer derived from farm and industrial wastes composted by selected Trichoderma starins and enriched with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Cocogro – mixture of plant growth hormones from coconut water that can be applied to orchids, flowering plants and ornamentals. BIO-HS vaccine – vaccine used to immunize young cows and carabaos against hemorrhagic septicemia. Locally-isolated yeast starin for increased alcohol production. Plant diagnostic kits using monoclonal antibodies to diagnose specific plants caused by viruses. Mature technologies/products (These are the technologies that satisfy the following criteria: have been field- or market-tested; feasibility/market studies have been conducted; target beneficiaries can already avail themselves of the products/services; and are available for early commercialization.) |
