Disease-Free Coffee Seedlings Developed

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Calabarzon and the Cavite State University (CvSU) are collaborating to boost the coffee industry in the region.

Photo Insert: At the DOSTRUCK launch

In a taped report aired on Friday, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the two are working to develop tissue culture growth chambers for coffee seedlings, according to a PNA report

Together with the National Coffee Research, Development, and Extension Center, they developed a tissue culture growth chamber to produce disease-free seedlings in even shorter periods of time.

"Through the growth chamber innovation, tissue-cultured embryos are subjected to a tightly controlled environment, thus decreasing the chance of plant contamination and mortality rate. With its promising appeal to the market, the technology is foreseen to open more opportunities for the government and private organizations to put up income-generating tissue culture laboratories," he said.

He added that this technology facility will have a significant impact on the coffee and macapuno industry.

De la Peña also reported that DOST-Calabarzon and CvSU recently launched the DOSTRUCK or DOST Technology in the Region for the Upscaling of Community Knowledge.

DOSTRUCK is a food safety compliant and mobile food processing hub currently stationed in Magallanes, Cavite.

The DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) fabricated and tested the mobile hub, he said. CvSu has been a partner of DOST-Calabarzon in the premiere operation of the DOSTRUCK.

Meanwhile, the agency has also installed a new vacuum freeze drying facility for the Calabarzon Food Solutions Hub (CFOSH), which is also stationed in Magallanes, Cavite, de la Peña said.

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