Science chief visits DOSTRUCK – PH’s first mobile coffee processing hub
Coffee on the go? Now it is possible to get that morning perk to start your day, the way you want it.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña recently visited the DOST Technology in the Region for Upscaling of Community Knowledge (DOSTRUCK) Site, a mobile food processing hub developed and designed by the DOST-CALABARZON in collaboration with the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC).
The visit is part of the two-day project visit of Sec. de la Peña held last 22-23 February 2022 to select DOST-CALABARZON’s science and technology projects and partnerships in the region, one of which involves coffee.
Launched in November 2021 and currently stationed in Magallanes, Cavite, the hub features Cavite’s famous coffee and is being operated and tested in partnership with the Cavite State University (CvSU).
Cavite State University (CvSU) Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Ruel M. Mojica, along with CvSU President Dr. Hernando D. Robles, led the tour inside the truck together with Sec. de la Peña, Cavite Mayor Jasmin Angelli Maligaya-Bautista, DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s (DOST-MIRDC) Prototyping Division Chief Rodnel O. Tamayo, DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit, and other guests.
As CvSU’s renowned coffee expert, Dr. Mojica shared that the coffee roasting machine, which he designed and developed, has the ability to roast a day’s supply of roasted coffee beans, with Robusta coffee being the most common, in just 30 minutes.
He also showed the coffee roasting machine, adding that they are doing a study on the variation of roasting levels and mix of various blends, as studies show that light roast has higher antioxidant properties and often has a better taste.
Dr. Mojica further said that the features of the mobile food processing hub can be replicated for other commodities like banana and sugarcane.
In a speech, Magallanes, Cavite Mayor Jasmin Angelli Maligaya-Bautista committed that some of the produce of the farmers in Magallanes will be supplied to the processing
hub, and her office will work to build a one-stop shop where DOST products, along with other native Magallanes products, will be sold in a bid to promote Magallanes, Cavite as an agri-eco tourism site.
This is affirmed by Sec. de la Peña, who cited as an example, the organic farmers of Angono which the DOST has been helping for them to realize the benefits of employing science and technology to improve their harvest. He said that he hopes that coffee and other commodity farmers in Cavite will be able to duplicate the success of the Angono farmers whose produce are now being bought by their local government units.
According to DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit, DOSTRUCK is not only a structure, it is a program and a novel entrepreneurial concept. It provides a temporary facility to MSMEs, cooperatives, or associations who do not have their food safety-compliant facility. Furthermore, DOSTRUCK also comes with provision for technical assistance on product development and food safety training.
Once the coffee farmers can establish their own processing facility, the DOSTRUCK will move to another area where it will serve its purpose, that of promoting local products by Filipinos for Filipinos. (30) (By Rosemarie C. Señora and photos by Gerardo G. Palad, DOST-STII)
DOST Secretary de la Peña smells the freshly ground coffee beans during his visit to the DOST Technology in the Region for Upscaling of Community Knowledge (DOSTRUCK) site in Magallanes, Cavite on 22 February 2022. The coffee grinding machine, along with coffee roasting machine, is only one of the features of the mobile food processing hub.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (3rd from left) during his visit to DOSTRUCK on 22 February 2022 receiving a pack of DOSTRUCK Coffee Blend from Magallanes, Cavite Mayor Jasmin Angelli Maligaya-Bautista (in black). With them are (from left): DOST-MIRDC’s Prototyping Division Chief Rodnel O. Tamayo, DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit, Cavite State University (CvSU) President Dr. Hernando D. Robles, and CvSU Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Ruel M. Mojica.
