SAGO Keeps Researchers on the GO!

Left out by its very popular look-alike, the coconut, sago palm has almost taken the route of the forgotten crops. Thanks to the 1st Philippine Sago Symposium. The route sees a bright detour towards promising possibilities.

Held on the 28th of July at the ODREX Audio-Visual Room of Leyte State University in Baybay, the 1st Philippine Sago Symposium opened the gate for new discussions on sago research. Sago researchers from the state colleges and universities in the Philippines and from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) and Rikkyo University from Japan served as the participants in the symposium along with some sago farming practitioners and interested individuals.

During the Opening Ceremonies, Dr. Paciencia P. Milan (LSU President) welcomed the participants while Prof. Algerico M. Mariscal the Director of the Philippine Rootcrops Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) presented the rationale of the one-day symposium. Prof. Mariscal stressed that with an abundant sago palm plants in the Philippines, the symposium hopes to meet the following objectives: a) to identify research gaps and formulate the sago research and development agenda, b) to establish linkage among sago researchers in the country and abroad, and c) to exchange research results to be used to promote various sago utilization possibilities.

With the objectives at hand, the symposium proceeded with several paper presentations on sago researches. After each presentation, the table is laid open for open forum and discussion.

Later in the afternoon, Engr. Alan B. Loreto of PhilRootcrops demonstrated on the use of Sago Starch Extracting Machine. Shortly after, the sago-farming practitioners proceeded to demonstrate processing of sago starch into a delicacy locally known as suman.

The symposium is jointly organized by the LSU, TUAT, Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (VICARP) and PhilRootcrops.

Commencing with a Certificate of Attendance distribution, the symposium at least left the participants with an assurance that; after all, sago will never be in the journey of forgotten crops.

About PhilRootcrops

The Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) is a government research, development and training institution for root and tuber crops: cassava, sweetpotato, taro, yam, yambean, arrowroot and other rootcrops.
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Vision, Mission & Goal

Vision
Creating wealth, enhancing health, improving lives through roots and tubers
Mission
To provide the national leadership in formulating and implementing strategic root crop research and development programs that can reduce poverty and food insecurity
Goal
To generate and promote root crop innovations and information that can improve the lives of stakeholders along the root crop value chain.

Contact Information

PROF. ALAN B. LORETO
Director
PhilRootcrops, VSU,Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines 6521-A
Telephone / Fax No.: +63 (053)563-7229 Trunkline: +63 (053) 565 0600 local 1063
Facebook: PHILROOTCROPS |
Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
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