22/08/2026
π± Bringing Agricultural Innovation Closer to the Farmers
A meaningful and inspiring visit to the Reotutar Institute of Science, Arts and Trades, Inc. (RISATI) Tissue Culture Laboratoryβwhere science, innovation, and agricultural development come together.
We are deeply grateful to Sec. Sec Conrado Estrella III - the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippines and his dedicated staff for taking the initiative to visit Reotutar Institute of Science, Arts and Trades, Inc. and explore how Plant Tissue Culture and agricultural biotechnology can contribute to the future of Philippine agriculture.
One of the most inspiring directions highlighted during the visit is the initiative to develop Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Micropropagation as a potential alternative and complementary food crop to rice. π³π¬π
Through micropropagation, the goal is to develop a reliable system for producing clean, uniform, and high-quality breadfruit planting materials at scaleβhelping establish breadfruit as a more accessible, productive, and sustainable crop for Filipino farmers.
Breadfruit has tremendous potential as a carbohydrate-rich staple crop, and developing efficient propagation technology can help overcome one of its major limitations: the availability of quality planting materials. This is where Plant Tissue Culture becomes a powerful bridge between biotechnology and agricultural production.
What makes this initiative even more meaningful is the decision to have the Secretaryβs staff undergo training closer to their areaβfrom Rosales to Villasis, Pangasinan. Instead of bringing agricultural technology far away from the communities that need it, we bring the knowledge, skills, and technology closer to them.
This is more than training.
It is capacity-building.
It is technology transfer.
It is food security.
And it is investing in the next generation of Philippine agriculture.
We sincerely thank the Secretary and his team for visiting Reotutar Institute of Science, Arts and Trades, Inc. (RISATI) and also experiencing Minuyungan: The Garden, our newly developed destination where agriculture, education, nature, and community come together.
From breadfruit micropropagation in the laboratory to actual agricultural production in the field, we believe that meaningful transformation begins when government, science, academe, and private agricultural institutions work together.
π± From Rosales to Villasis. From the laboratory to the farm. From innovation to food security.
Together, let us explore new crops, new technologies, and new possibilities for a more resilient and sustainable Philippine agriculture. π΅ππ¬π³
