First PH Agricultural Genomics Center Launched At UPLB To Strengthen PH Crop Improvement

UPLB launched the country’s first dedicated agricultural genomics facility on September 21, 2026, laying the foundation for stronger collaborative research on Philippine agricultural genomes. The development arises amid growing food security challenges posed by climate change, emerging pests and diseases, biodiversity loss, and rapid changes in global markets.

The Agricultural Genomics Research Center (AGRC) was established with grant support from the Republic of Korea, provided by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It is currently KOICA’s largest investment in research and infrastructure, according to KOICA Country Director Jung Youngsun.

The establishment of the AGRC is part of the bigger project “Capacity-Building for Higher Education and the Establishment of the Agricultural Genomics Research Center at UPLB,” a collaborative undertaking between UPLB, KOICA, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

In his welcome remarks, Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. highlighted the role of the AGRC in advancing Philippine agriculture.

“This state-of-the-art facility will allow our researchers to study agriculture not merely at the level of the plant or the field, but at the level of the gene, the cell, and the molecule. With its advanced laboratories, tissue culture facility, and screenhouses for micropropagation, the AGRC positions UPLB as a regional hub for cutting-edge, science-based solutions to the challenges facing our farmers and our food systems,” he said.

His Excellency Lee Dong-gy, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, said that the AGRC represents the transition of South Korea’s Official Development Assistance from basic aid to “enduring high-impact capacity building,” which aims to give Filipino researchers access to advanced training and opportunities.

He added that the new Center will serve as a platform connecting Filipino agricultural scientists with partners in Southeast Asia and beyond.

“By integrating KOICA’s development support with the academic rigor of UPLB, the strategic oversight of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the world-class expertise of IRRI, this project equips Filipino researchers, faculty, and scholars with cutting-edge tools in molecular breeding and genomics, enabling the PH institutions to generate their own resilient crop variants and safeguard their own food security,” he said.

The launch was also attended by several government and UP officials who expressed their support for the project.

Cheryll Marie Natividad-Caballero, undersecretary for the High-value Crops Development Program at DA, spoke on behalf of DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., and thanked the South Korean government and KOICA for its investment.

She said that traditional farming and breeding methods are no longer sufficient to meet the complex challenges amid growing agricultural demands, and that they must be complemented by newer strategies based on genomics.

She also highlighted the opportunities that genomics will open in the production of high-value crops, which can improve farmers’ market access and income.

“We are opening a national gateway through which biological knowledge becomes better crops, stronger enterprises, healthier communities, and a more resilient Philippines-Korea agriculture partnership,” Caballero said.

In his message, delivered by Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr., UP vice president for research and innovation, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez underscored that the AGRC has improved UPLB’s position in advancing genomics and training the next generation of scientists.

He noted that genomics “gives us new ways to understand crops, improve agricultural productivity, strengthen disease resistance and climate resilience, and develop innovations suited to our particular needs.”

Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, CHED commissioner, said that the launch of the AGRC builds on UPLB’s institutional strength and enables it to further contribute to the future of Philippine agriculture, such as in the use of bioinformatics and precision agriculture.

Dr. Yvonne Pinto, IRRI director-general, also attended the program in support of the launch, with IRRI acting as project management consultant for the project.

Dr. Pinto highlighted the early achievements of AGRC before its inauguration. These included leading training in genomics, biosafety and data analytics which was attended by 150 scientists, regulators, and students; and supporting 15 masters students and 10 PHD scholars to pursue research and advance studies in partnership with South Korean universities.

The launch was followed by a tour of the facility and a meeting among the AGRC’s project steering committee.

Also gracing the event were National Scientist Dolores A. Ramirez; Dr. Rita P. Laude, the pioneering director of the Philippine Genome Center for Agriculture; UP Alumni Regent Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., and Los Banos Mayor Neil Andrew N. Nocon. (Jessa Jael S. Arana).