Benguet State University (BSU) formalized its partnership with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on May 21, 2025 at the BSU-Office of the President.

The collaboration will implement the program titled, “AGRI-INNOVATE: Development and Piloting of Supply/Value Chain Solutions of Excess Supply and Resource Recovery of Vegetables in the Cordillera Administrative Region.” Funded by the DOST-PCAARRD, the program aims to develop and pilot a supply chain management system and value chain solutions for excess supply and resource recovery of vegetables in CAR. BSU will take the lead in implementing the said program.

The AGRI-INNOVATE program has four components, including Project 1: Development and Piloting of Supply Chain Coordination for Vegetables in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Project 2: Development and Piloting of Waste to Value Agriculture to Manage the Excess Supply of Vegetables; Project 3: Development of Pre and Postharvest Protocols for Selected Highland vegetables to improve Quality and Reduce Losses; and Project 4: Development and Piloting Nutrient Return Program – An Innovative Solution for Managing Vegetable Wastes and Excess Supply.

The MOA was signed by BSU President Kenneth A. Laruan and DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora. This was witnessed by Ernesto O. Brown, DOST-PCAARRD-Socio Economics Research Division Director, and BSU Project Leaders, including Janet P. Pablo, Cheryll C. Launio, Madeline S. Kingan, and Jemma Rose M. Kilakil. Also present during the MOA signing were VP for Research and Extension Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres and Darwin Basquial, Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Resources – Research and Development R&D Cluster Coordinator.//EBawayan