“Hindi mo akalain na ang mga ginagamit mo pala sa bahay ay products ng biotech.” This was the sentiment shared by Dr. Mary Sylvette T. Gunigundo, director for planning, research, and knowledge management of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), after she took part in the Biotechnology Fiesta tour during this year’s National Biotechnology Week (NBW).

“‘Yung mga active ingredients na ginagamit sa detergent, sabon, cosmetics, ay pwedeng galing sa biotechnology. Iyon ‘yung hindi nata-translate sa ordinary people. Kasi ‘pag sinabi mong biotech, masyadong scientific. Ano ba ibig sabihin ng biotech? ‘Yun pala kapag umpisahan mo doon sa everyday use, mas naiintindihan mo, mas naaappreciate mo ang biotech”, said Dr. Gunigundo.

(The active ingredients in detergent, soap, and cosmetics may have come from biotechnology. This hasn’t been translated to ordinary people. When you say biotech, it sounds so scientific. What is biotech? When you begin with items you use daily, you begin to understand and appreciate biotech more.)

Biotechnology Fiesta aimed to show that biotechnology is in everyone’s lives. This year’s NBW marked the 20th year of recognizing and promoting biotechnology’s role in sustainable development and research. Annually spearheaded by the inter-agency steering committee composed of eight government line agencies, the event highlighted the importance of biotechnology, its innovations, and commercialization.

This year, CHED was at the helm of the event, with UPLB as co-host.

Learning about biotechnology

UPLB’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) aligned its activities with this year’s NBW theme: #experienceBIOTECH: Expand the Future of Biotechnology through Education, Innovation, and Commercialization.

From November 25 to 28, it opened its doors to students, farmers, local government constituents, industry representatives, and other stakeholders. Participants had the chance to explore booths and activities showcasing biotechnology and its practical applications.

Visitors first learned about the basics of biotech in the Education section, which featured a learn-and-experience tour with short discussions and interactive booths

Dedicated to students, this section highlighted the importance of instruction and information on biotechnology. Young students experienced conducting science experiments at the “Scientist for a Day” simulation.

Students and teachers alike were enlightened on the purpose of biotechnology in other fields. Carlos Baltazar, from the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology of UPLB, said that the demonstrations helped him appreciate the real-life applications of the lessons tackled in their courses.

Nathaniel Pasia, a BS Agriculture student, and his classmates expressed that the exhibit on good microbes particularly interested them and gave them a fun experience.

A faculty member at the Sta. Cruz campus of the Laguna State Polytechnic University, Laila Carreon, shared that the Biotechnology Fiesta inspired them to encourage students taking BS Biology and Chemistry to explore the field of biotechnology for their research studies.

Application and uses of biotechnology

The Innovation section, devoted mainly to entrepreneurs, farmers, and industry and government units, highlighted the basics of applying their learnings.

It featured the institute’s biotech-based products for food and agriculture. Guests experienced food processing using MONASCUS RED Colorant, fish feeding using Protein Enriched Copra Meal (PECM), and applying biofertilizers to tomato seedlings that were given out for free.

Bea Negosa, a UPLB alumna and Jetbest Animal Nutrition and Health Care, Inc. representative, said that she now appreciated the ideas she had when she was a student at the university.

“Kasi ‘diba sa Philippines, wala naman tayo masyadong opportunity. If mag-veventure tayo sa ganitong events, mas makikita natin ‘yung use at ginagawa sa biotech”, she said. (In the Philippines, we don’t have opportunities [to learn]. If we go to events like this, we will be able to know the uses of biotech.)

Local government staff from Rizal and Laguna also expressed how they learned about fertilizers and agriculture from the exhibits.

Commercializing technologies

After the research and testing, products are then scaled up for wider reach. This was featured in the Commercializationsection, a mini-industry fair where different companies that use or partner with BIOTECH for its technologies showcased their products.

The exhibitors included AgriSpecialist, Inc., Beak and Snout AS Co., InsuPlus, Aust-Phil Food Manufacturing Corp., and the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Science.

Martin Cruz from Qiagen, Manila, said that since their visit was mainly for work and exposure to biotech applications, they appreciated the industry exhibits, as they are more focused on research and output.

#experienceBIOTECH

The visitors’ feedback proved that experiential learning during the Biotechnology Fiesta helped make the NBW successful.

In addition to BIOTECH, the UPLB institutes that participated in the tour and showcased their research, products, and services were the Institute of Plant Breeding, the National Crop Protection Center, the Organic Agriculture Research, Development, and Extension Center, and the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office.

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. de Vera III emphasized in his NBW closing message that encouraging students to pursue and be excited by science and technology topics, biotechnology included, is of paramount importance and is one of the annual celebration’s goals.

The BIOTECH Fiesta indeed sparked students’ interest to consider the field as one of their course and career options. It also aimed to empower entrepreneurs and farmers by updating and engaging them in the development of biotechnology-based products and technologies, and helping industries promote and expand their own products. (Nayo P. Datuin and Marian G. Carpio)

This article was originally published in UPLB Horizon on 17 December 2024.