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Bamboo expert, ISO Excellence Awardee appointed as new DOST-FPRDI Director
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DOST FPRDI’s new Director Rico J. Cabangon (left) took his oath of office before DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. on 31 October 2024 at the DOST Central Office in Taguig City
The DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rico J. Cabangon as its new Director, effective 28 October 2024. He took his oath of office before DOST Secretary Rene U. Solidum, Jr. last 31 October 2024 at the DOST Central Office in Taguig City.
DOST partners with renowned Filipino perfumer for fragrance making, sensory evaluation
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Select researchers of the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) underwent an in-depth training on sensory evaluation and fragrance making under renowned Filipino perfumer Oscar Mejia III last 17-18 September 2024.
Dubbed “Art in Olfaction: A Fragrance Creation Experience”, the training upskilled DOST-FPRDI researchers in formulating alcohol- and oil-based fragrances. They were also taught how to assess and differentiate various scent components to help identify and isolate specific fragrance notes. Aging and storing blends were also tackled, along with laboratory requirements and testing procedure.
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. expressed his hope for a reinvigorated essential oils industry. “The local essential oils industry has so much potential especially because of the country’s vast resource of aromatic plants. With R&D and innovations developed by DOST-FPRDI, and the strong linkage with partner organizations, the essential oils industry can be a significant economic driver that can create opportunities for the local economies”, he said.
“This move will further strengthen our researchers’ ability to develop fragrance products. After this training, we look forward to crafting more innovative and balanced perfume formulations using local essential oils,” said DOST-FPRDI OIC Director Rico J. Cabangon.
Filipino perfumer Oscar Mejia III discussed concepts that allowed participants to understand the complexity of raw materials interaction, creating a unique “storytelling” thru the perfume’s scent profile.
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)
