DOST-PCAARRD-DMMMSU ATBI elevates La Union entrepreneurs
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development-Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (DOST-PCAARRD-ATBI), led by Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, Professor Anabella G. Valdez, Eden P. Borce, assisted by their technical staff, was established at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) with the goal of promoting and facilitating the transfer of agriculture and aquaculture technologies through technology business incubation.
Through incubation and acceleration, the DOST-ATBI PCAARRD's initiative seeks to efficiently assist the use and commercialization of advanced technologies in the agri-aqua natural resources industry. Crops, livestock, aquaculture, post-harvest handling, food processing, agricultural machinery, farm inputs (feeds, biofertilizers, and biopesticides), disease diagnostics, wood and non-wood forest products are among the diverse technical groups that ATBI provides assistance to.
On February 21, 2023, during the visit of DOST-I Officer-in-Charge Teresita A. Tabaog, La Union Provincial Science and Technology Director Jonathan M. Viernes, OIC for Field Operations, Adelisa C. Florendo, RDILPMC head, Annalie L. Rosales, Engr. Bernadine P. Suniega, and Ms. Carla Joyce B. Cajala, the team presented an overview of the initiative and the present status of the facility to the DOST-I team.
Trainings, networking for financial support, accounting and bookkeeping, business planning and business model canvassing, marketing, food testing and sensory evaluation, trademark development and application, trademark development and application, database management, and website design are among the services provided.
At the moment, DMMMSU has lecture halls, training rooms, conference rooms, product processing rooms, laboratory equipment, production farms, market space, and technological support facilities that will be very useful in implementing this joint undertaking.
The facility is available to incubatees who seek to enhance their approaches to handling agricultural and aquatic resources. The various advantages of being an incubatee were
listed, including technology management, company development, marketing, networking, access to facilities and equipment assistance, and administrative support.
Meanwhile, the commodities on seaweeds, banana, mango, bangus/tilapia, grouper, fish, goat, pelletizing machine, and pellet feeds for goat currently have a number of incubatees. Application, recommendation, screening, offer, onboarding, execution, graduation, and post-graduation engagement are all part of the incubation process.
As a result, the ATBI was able to start building the DMMMSU ATBI/Innovation Center in 2021. The following recognitions were also awarded to them:
- Outstanding Regional Partner (DSWD- Sustainable Livelihood Program)
- First Place: Oral Development Category Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights
- First Place: Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Network 1
OIC-RD Tabaog commended the team's efforts and committed to assisting their future endeavors. (By Carla Joyce B. Cajala, DOST-I)
