A collaborative meeting and facility tour took place on January 24, 2025 at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), bringing together researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), scientists from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), accredited Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) farmer organizations, and BAPTC personnel.
The day began with a tour of the BAPTC facilities, providing the visitors with an overview of the center’s operations. This was followed by a consultation among the UPLB researchers, the New Zealand PFR scientists, representatives from BAPTC-accredited GAP farmer organizations, and BAPTC staff.
The primary objective of this activity was to explore the potential for establishing a farm-to-market supply chain between Benguet and Quezon City. Participants discussed identifying potential vegetable suppliers in Benguet who could meet the demands of the Quezon City market. The consultation focused on assessing the feasibility of developing a sustainable and efficient system for transporting produce from local farms to consumers in Quezon City.//Mclaire Siplat