The government is infusing P102.7-million investment in research and development (R&D) on biotechnology, biofuel, global information system, and supply chain improvement of top commodities.

To be implemented beginning this year, the approved R&D projects will also focus on developing export crops that contribute to food security and poverty reduction, natural resource management, and promising export crops.
Being a top export product, banana is receiving a total of P3.962 million for a research by the Institute of Plant Breeding and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute on tissue culture and induced mutation to counter banana bunchy top virus (BBTV).

BBTV is the most devastating banana disease in the country. A separate P.98 million budget is allocated to counter fusarium wilt in banana particularly in plantations in Southern Mindanao. This aims to produce fusarium wilt-resistant cultivars by 2009 and help uplift the livelihood of 2.8 million households.

In livestock, P3.020 million is allocated for the cloning of water buffalo using somatic cell nuclear transfer technology to produce super buffalo calves. To be cofounded by the Philippine Carabao Center, this project will set up procedures for cloning and freezing buffalo oocytes.

"About 1,300 buffalo clone embryos will be produced in the laboratory and transferred to recipient animals," said Philippine Council for Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) which is administering the R&D projects.

This will also put up bank for somatic cells from super buffaloes.
On the environment, P1.9 million is dedicated for a study on composting system for plastic and municipal wastes, field-testing on the generated compost’s safety as a fertilizer, and a feasibility study on this waste disposal system.

The University of the Philippines-Los Baños will also study the enhancement of the capability of microorganisms to degrade plastid and biodegradable wastes.

Another environment-related project is on the maintenance of swine biogas digesters which will manage a hog farm in a sanitary manner while producing fuel and fertilizer at the same time.

Receiving the biggest amount for R&D is jatropha, P45.72 million for a study on its enhancement as methyl ester or biodiesel feed while another big budget of P33.4 million is allocated for the development of sweet sorghum and cassava as feedstock for ethanol.

A study on a highly-exportable ornamental plant as cutflower, orchid, is receiving P4.3 million. It will collect additional capsules of 200 genotypes of indigenous orchids.

"At least two genotypes of 52 species of indigenous orchids would be regenerated and at least 15,000 plants of the genotypes of 52 species of orchids would be produced for potting out and then at least 7,.500 plants would be reintroduced into the protected natural habitats."
There are about 800 orchids species in the country that are adversely affected by habitat destruction.

Government has also tied up with the Mama Sita Foundation Inc. and Exotica for the conservation and evaluation of new varieties of calamansi, peach palm, jackfruit, mangosteen, tamarind, mango, guava, bignay, jujube, anthurium, and palms for local propagation intended for large-scale export.
Another high value crop, mango, is getting P3.7 million for studies on improvement of production distribution, and marketing. It will also involve studies on the co-production of goat, bamboo, fresh vegetables, abaca, and organic fertilizers.

An R&D on global information system (GIS), P4.8 million, will have benefits in fire hazard assessment for foresters and upland community leaders.

"The watershed land capability evaluator seeks to combine GIS-based soil erosion potential simulator with land use suitability tool and land-use optimization model. Such system will aid managers and policy-makers in arriving at better decision on watershed land use management," PCARRD said.