SLSU-Hinunangan Leads Agricultural Innovation, 1M-Peso DOST Grant Fuels Tissue Culture Lab
Southern Leyte State University-Hinunangan, in a major boost to agricultural innovation, has received a PHP 1 million grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the establishment of a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory. The funding, handed over through a formal turnover ceremony on November 18, 2024 to SLSU-Hinunangan Campus Director Mr. Wade C. Lim, signals a transformative step for the province's agricultural sector.
“This project marks the beginning of a new chapter in agricultural innovation for Southern Leyte,” said DOST Southern Leyte Provincial Director Ramil Uy, emphasizing the initiative's potential to elevate local agriculture through science, technology, and innovation (STI).
The funding supports the project titled "STI Solutions for High Economic Value Agricultural Commodities in Southern Leyte," which aims to increase the economic value of local agricultural products. The laboratory is expected to become operational by February next year.
For its first three years, the facility will prioritize the production of abaca planting materials to address the demand for high-quality, disease-free crops. Subsequent efforts will focus on bananas, bamboos, and ornamental plants. Using tissue culture technology, the laboratory will generate identical, mature plants with desirable traits, ensuring consistency and high quality in the crops produced.
SLSU-Hinunangan Campus Director Mr. Wade C. Lim expressed optimism about the laboratory's potential impact. “This initiative is a vital step towards empowering our local farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector of Southern Leyte. By providing advanced resources and technologies, we aim to not only improve crop production but also contribute to the province's economic growth,” he shared.
“This laboratory can produce multiple plants even from limited seeds or low-growth planting materials, which is a game-changer for local agriculture,” Uy added. Beyond production, the facility will also validate and refine protocols for innovation, advancing the science behind plant propagation techniques.
The project holds the potential to uplift local farmers by providing reliable, disease-free planting materials that improve yield and quality. As a result, the initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth across Southern Leyte, aligning with the university’s mission to spearhead sustainable development through science and technology.
The tissue culture laboratory at SLSU-Hinunangan represents a crucial step forward for agricultural research and development in the region, ensuring that the province remains at the forefront of innovative and sustainable farming practices.
