Dr. Menisa A. Antonio is a plant genetic resources specialist, spearheading the sustainable conservation and promotion of underutilized and neglected plant species in Ilocos Norte. As a conservation enthusiast, her research works led to the taxonomic identification of the wild Dioscorea “buga”, identification and characterization of indigenous food plants (IFPs), evaluation of the health potential of IFPs, establishment of a botanical garden of IFPs, germplasm conservation and selection of high-yielding traditional upland rice varieties, and conservation of priority Iloco vegetable landraces. She has published papers in refereed and non-refereed journals, book and catalogs, book chapters, and other knowledge products. She has presented papers, and gained recognition in international, national and local venues. Her policy recommendation on the conservation and promotion of IFPs has been adopted by the Regional Development Council -Region 1. She was MMSU’s Most Outstanding Researcher in 2011 and 2025.
She holds the position of Senior Science Research Specialist under the Research Directorate. She also serves as Center Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation and Management Center (NRCMC) and concurrently as Chief of the Technology and Consultancy Services Section of the Extension Directorate. She earned her PhD in Botany, specializing in Plant Systematics, and her MS in Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Management from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna. She obtained her BS in Biology from MMSU.
