MANILA, Philippines — The National Plant Genetics Resources Laboratory (NPGRL) at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) is undergoing a P5-million upgrading by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

NPGRL is the country’s principal repository of genetic resources for crops crucial to agriculture and food security.

Located at the Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture (IPB-CA) of UPLB, the project is scheduled to be completed by April.

Agriculture Assistant Scretary and National Rice Program Cordinator Dante S. Delima said the project involves the repair of facilities and equipment for seed processing characterization and NPGRL in vitro units.

“NPGRL is at the forefront of plant genetic resources management and conservation,” Delima said, “and repairs are necessary to ensure the smooth flow of operations at the laboratory which was damaged by a strong typhoon a few years ago,” Delima said.

Project leader Visitacion Huelgas thanked DA for the support and vowed to complete the repair, rehabilitation, electrical work and purchase of needed equipment by April.

UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Ma. Victoria Espaldon, UPLB Dean Domingo Angeles, and Director Jose Hernandez also signed the letter.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala initiated the project to upgrade research stations, stock farms, and experimental stations in the countryside for possible funding.

“Ito ang magiging mukha ng ating kagawaran sa bawa’t lugar. Ayusin natin ito at gawing sentro ng teknolohiya na ipamamahagi sa mga magsasaka,” Alcala said.

The NPGRL is the national leader in plant genetic resource activities. It identifies important and potentially useful agricultural crops used by plant breeders and other researchers in their crop improvement and breeding activities.

NPGRL holds the largest national germplasm collection in Southeast Asia, comprised of more than 45,000 accessions of 600 agricultural crop species and their relatives such as corn, mungbean, tomato, eggplant, yardlong bean, cowpea, and edible and wild Musa, which includes banana and plantain, mongo and root crops.

It also conducts research on the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity.

NPGRL also introduced and evaluated improved and superior landraces of banana and identified cultivars that have good potential in terms of yield and acceptability.

It was also identified as National Repository, Multiplication and Distribution Center by Bioversity International, an international non-profit organization that undertakes research aimed at improving people’s lives through the use and conservation of agricultural biodiversity.