A research paper from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) was awarded Best Paper during the 2025 State Universities and Colleges–Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP) Biennial Conference and General Assembly, held on August 27–29, 2025, at the Metro Center Hotel, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The award-winning paper, From wild foods to policy innovation: MMSU’s indigenous food plants program as a model for sustainable and inclusive agriculture, principally authored and presented by Dr. Menisa A. Antonio, senior science research specialist of the Research Directorate, bested eight other papers under the sustainable and smart agri-aquaculture and climate resilience category. Ma. Concepcion Birginias, Josefa Pugat, Maingeline Vivit, and Ruby Rose Tamayo co-authored the paper.
The research paper highlights MMSU’s Indigenous Food Plants (IFP) program, which integrates conservation, innovation, policy, and education. The program documented IFP species in Ilocos Norte and developed production technologies for crops such as himbabao (alokon), gac (sugodsugod), and latok (kapaskapas). Conservation efforts employed a triad approach (in situ, ex situ, circa situ), which included the establishment of the IFP Botanical Garden, Himbabo genebank at the MMSU Forest Reserve, circa situ cultivation of the wild yam kamangeg and dolian, and the integration of IFPs into community foodscapes. The IFP Program is the first R&D initiative adopted by the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 1, providing input for policy advocacy. MMSU is also advancing the program with omics-based molecular characterization to support conservation and utilization.
Aside from the winning IFP paper, MMSU also presented two other significant research contributions both orally presented by Dr. Raymund Julius Rosales of the College of Agriculture Food and Sustainable Development: 1) Influence of fruit storage of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) on seed germination and seedling vigor by Mariz Dahilig, Raymund Julius Rosales, Cristian Butch Andrew Balbas, Glisten Faith Pascua, and Micah Benize G. Balbas; and 2) Light-Emitting Diodes as Supplementary Light for Indoor Cultivation of Cabbage Microgreens by Mayvee Gudayen, Aira Lilac Pungtilan, Cristian Butch Andrew Balbas, Raymund Julius Rosales, and Micah Benize G. Balbas.
In addition, another MMSU extension paper, School-on-the-Air Program and Social Media: A Complementary Extension Platform for the Promotion of Improved Goat Production Management in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, also won the Best Paper Award under the agribusiness, rural development, policy, and extension services category. The team of Dr. Sean Vidad, Mercy Fausta Gano, Marilou Lucas, Sherlyn Nicolas, Richard Guinsatao, RI Raguindin, MCM Yapo, and RM Rabanal authored the paper.
The conference, themed “Future-Proofing Agriculture Education: Fostering Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Agriculture,” and co-hosted by Bohol Island State University, gathered leaders, experts, and researchers from 42 SUCs nationwide. The keynote speaker was CHED Chair and former MMSU President Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis. At the same time, plenary talks were delivered by experts from UPLB, SEARCA, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the Development Academy of the Philippines, Global Health Focus, and DA-BAR.
