The project will be implemented with the following research studies:

Identified superior varieties of fruit crops or elite cultivars have been registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) and recommended for commercial production. From 1995 to 2012, 98 new varieties of 27 fruit crops have been released by NSIC for commercial production. In Ilocos Norte, elite cultivars from existing stands of fruit crops had been selected, conserved and mass propagated by the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). Other SUCs, agencies, and individuals in the country have participated in the registration of these varieties. However, many of these varieties are not within the reach of commercial growers or known by students and other stakeholders of the industry. There are also fruit crops which are not commercially important now but have genetic characteristics which maybe important in the future for climate change adaptation.

With the advent of climate change, there is a need to ensure conservation of these important biological resource. Hence, there is a need to institutionalize this germplasm collection and commercialization at the University to ensure sustainability and protection of the genepool for future generations. This germplasm collection also serves as show window of biological diversity for students, growers and other stakeholders of the industry and at the same time serve as an agri-ecotourism venture which also generate employment and can add to the income of the University.