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DOST-FPRDI studies bamboo’s potential vs onion armyworm infestation
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The DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) is eyeing the potential of bamboo to help control armyworm and cutworm attacking onion plantations.
Institute experts will develop formulations and test the performance of bamboo pyroligneous liquid (PL) in controlling onion armyworm (OAW) and cutworm in local onion farms.
PL, a by-product of charcoal production, is derived from the collected and condensed smoke during pyrolysis—a process that heats or burns a plant biomass without oxygen. PL acts as a disinfectant, bathroom deodorizer, organic pesticide, and is commonly used in the medicine, cosmetics and food processing industries.
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. expects innovative uses of and products from bamboo thru this project. “The potential of bamboo as a cost-effective solution to enhance the local production of high-value crops opens exciting market opportunities for our farmers. The study will not only contribute to enhancing agricultural practices but is also seen to drive the local bamboo and onion industries to new heights. We are optimistic that the result of this project will provide solution to the challenges in the production being faced by our onion farmers and open new market opportunities for our bamboo growers”
Titled “Bamboo LIQUOR Ph: Local Innovation for Quality Use of Organic Pesticide Resource in the Philippines,” the project is a collaboration with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry and funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
“Results of the study can positively affect both the bamboo and onion sectors. A cost-effective and more environment-friendly pesticide from bamboo PL can translate into higher yield and reduced production cost for local onion farmers. It can also open new economic opportunities for bamboo growers who rely mostly on its traditional uses,” explained DOST-FPRDI OIC Director Rico J. Cabangon.
According to Project Leader Jennifer P. Tamayo, several formulations of the bamboo PL will be validated in actual farm setting to test its efficacy, commercial potential, and applicability in minimizing the harmful effects of the cutworm and OAW in onion farms.
Last 22 August 2024, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between DOST-FPRDI and the Rice, Onion and Corn Growers Association for the field validation trials of bamboo PL. Said trials will be conducted in a half hectare (5,000 sq m) land in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija during the next planting season.
Onion armyworm (Photo courtesy: DA-BPI)
Young Filipino Inventor lauds DOST-FPRDI's role in developing billion-dollar Pili-based sealant
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Young Filipino Inventor lauds DOST-FPRDI's role in developing billion-dollar Pili-based sealant
Pasay City, 18 September 2024—At the opening ceremony of the National Youth Science, Technology, and Innovation Festival (NYSTIF), at the PICC Forum Tent, Young Filipino innovator Engr. Mark Kennedy E. Bantugon acknowledged the significant contributions of the Department of Science and Technology in his adventures and triumphs as an innovator. In particular, he thanked the following attached agencies of the Department: Science Education Institute (SEI), Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), and Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI).
Among his milestones, he shared his journey in developing his aviation sealant “Pili Seal” where the DOST-FPRDI made significant contributions, particularly in the early stage of development. Engr. Bantugon’s Pili Seal is a sustainable sealant made from the waste of pili (Canarium ovatum) tree resin production. It has gained global recognition for its industrial and material applications, and has won prestigious awards including the James Dyson Award in 2021, Swiss Innovation Prize Competition 2023, and the OCBC Global Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2023. The Pili Seal also clinched a historic milestone by being the fastest granted patent in the Philippines, to date.
DOST Lab for testing of transport packaging materials for furniture, now a member of PIP
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The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute’s (DOST-FPRDI) Transit Testing Laboratory (TTL) officially became a member of the Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP) during the latter’s 2nd General Membership Meeting and Industry Updates.
PIP is a national association that promotes the importance of good packaging in the industry and among consumers. It is comprised of users, makers and suppliers of packaging materials and services.
“DOST is committed to supporting local manufacturers by providing opportunities to improve their product quality and design. DOST-FPRDI’s Transit Testing Laboratory as well as its other ISO-accredited facilities ensure that manufacturers can gain a competitive edge in exporting their products,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr.
DOST-FPRDI’s TTL evaluates the performance of packaging materials used for transporting furniture and other products, adhering to the testing standards of the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The laboratory is equipped with advanced machinery, including a rotary vibration test machine, drop tester, compression test machine, and inclined impact test machine.
These machines simulate the conditions encountered during shipment, making transit testing crucial, especially as many importers require products to undergo transit testing before export.
DOST-FPRDI’s TTL operates under the Institute’s Furniture Testing Center. In addition to its PIP membership, it is also affiliated with the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), based in Michigan, USA.
“Packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring that products remain safe, secure, and intact during transit. DOST-FPRDI’s Transit Testing Laboratory is well-positioned to share its expertise, promote best practices, and contribute significantly to the furniture industry, paper-based material packaging and other packaging sectors,” explained DOST-FPRDI OIC Director Rico J. Cabangon. 
