BSU officials join Operation Kape of the R&D Sector

BSU officials led by OIC of the Office of the President, Dr. Danilo B. Bose planted coffee trees around the premises of the Research and Extension Complex on September 24, 2020. The activity was titled “Operation ‘KAPE’: Laying the Foundation of Arabica Coffee in the Future R&E Science Complex”. This is in celebration of BSU’s 104th Foundation Anniversary and Civil Service Month and to build an Arabica Coffee collection.

The coffee trees that were planted are symbolic of the University’s Research and Development Program on Arabica Coffee in the Cordillera Administrative Region in one of its projects titled, “Genetic Characterization through DNA Markers and Somatic Embryogenesis of Arabica Coffee (Coffee arabica L.) Germplasm in CAR” spearheaded by the Institute of Highland Farming Systems and Agroforestry (IFHSA) and the Higher Education Regional Research Center (HERRC). The program is funded by the Commission on Higher Education.

In a simple ceremony held before the coffee tree planting, VP for Research and Extension, Dr. Ruth S. Batani; IFHSA director, Prof. Andres A. Basalong and Office of Extension Services director, Dr. Stanley F. Anongos explained the significance of the activity.

“The coffee that we are going to plant today came all the way from Mountain Province. Our researchers had these seedlings taken to BSU and subjected to scientific processes such as DNA marking and tissue-culture until finally, we have them today to be planted,” said Dr. Anongos.

There was a total of 298 coffee seedlings planted during the activity made possible with the involvement of 100 staff of various BSU research institutes and centers. Twenty of these seedlings originated from Belis, Atok, Benguet; 130 are from the IHFSA collection and 148 are from Mountain Province. The varieties include Typica, Red Bourbon, Mundo Novo, San Ramon and Granica.

Under the said BSU R&D program, coffee seedlings were turned over to beneficiaries and coffee production IEC materials containing information on traditional production practices, morphological characterization, disease management and technological innovations were distributed to the public.  

“It’s an honor to be part of this noble activity. I learned that this is a transfer of technology program and I know that this is just the beginning. I hope that this technology will be transferred to other localities of Benguet and also other parts of the Cordillera,” said Dr. Bose who admitted that it was his first time to plant a coffee tree.//JSTabangcura