Amid the limitations posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unstable internet connections, researchers of the Mariano Marcos State University managed to present their research papers virtually in the different commodity reviews sponsored by the Ilocos Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC) from October 1 to 27.
A total of 29 research papers were presented in eight commodity sectors or clusters participated in by MMSU: 10 papers for the vegetables, legumes, bulb and root crops; 5 for food product development and bio-prospecting for medicinal use; 4 for technology business management and decision support system and tools; 3 each for the technical support services and community development, and gender and development and socio-economic studies; 2 for rice and corn; and 1 each for forestry and environment, and livestock and forage. These papers reported results of the research studies/projects conducted by MMSU researchers in 2019 and earlier recommended for presentation in external research reviews and conferences during the 2020 Agency In-House Research Review conducted by the Research Directorate last September 19-24.
The commodity review is an annual event prior to the ILAARRDEC’s Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights where research projects from the different member agencies of the consortium are evaluated. From these reviews, research papers to be included in the regional symposium are selected either for oral or poster presentation. Each commodity review schedule was hosted by an assigned member agency. MMSU hosted the vegetables, legumes, bulb and root crops review.
