Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said that plant breeding efforts in the country remain a powerful solution to many cross-sectoral concerns and create a broader impact on food security, rural development, and agricultural sustainability.
While plant breeding allows researchers to develop crops that are more nutritious, productive, disease-resistant, or climate-resilient, Solidum said these new crop varieties, when combined with appropriate technologies and management, “can significantly reduce hunger, increase income, and make farming more resilient to climate and economic shocks”.
“At DOST, we have always recognized IPB’s significant role in strengthening crop improvement and ensuring food security in the country. For 50 years, it has served not only as a breeding ground for improved plant varieties but also for cultivating young scientists with the passion and skill to address our nation’s most pressing agricultural challenges,” Solidum said.
Solidum was one of the guest speakers during the first-ever International Plant Breeding Conference, initiated by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), at the Manila Hotel on June 26, 2025.
By virtue of the Presidential Decree 729, the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) was established on June 5, 1975, with the vision of closer collaboration among plant breeders and scientists of applied disciplines. It was founded under the Agricultural and Food Science of the UPLB.
It is mandated to develop varieties of important agricultural crops through breeding and biotechnology, and to conserve the plant genetic resources for future generations.
Currently, IPB has developed over 200 crop varieties of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruits, ornamentals, root crops, and feed and industrial crops, which are registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) and the IPB Germplasm and Technology Registration and Release Office (IPB GTRRO), according to UPLB.
In celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the IPB, with the theme,“Celebrating Milestone: Innovating Pathways in Plant Breeding,” Solidum said that the celebration is not just a commemoration of IPB’s past achievements, but a call to action and a reminder that “the world we live in is changing rapidly, and our ability to feed our growing population, mitigate climate change, and protect biodiversity depends on how fast and how well we innovate”.
He also reiterated that science must serve society and that research efforts should aim to solve real-world problems.
“Research outcomes must be demand-driven, solutions-oriented, future-proofed, and inclusive. We need a stronger market pull that ensures the innovations we generate do not remain in laboratories or journals but reach the people on the ground. It is not enough that we develop knowledge; we must ensure that research outputs are used, accessible, and beneficial to the communities we serve,” Solidum said.
Highlighting the importance of translating research into technologies, Solidum said that innovations must not end at the point of discovery—they must be deployed, adopted, and create value.
The science chief also encouraged IPB to seek expanded institutional support and with the government, development partners, value chain actors, and the private sector, saying “a more robust pipeline of funding and talent is essential to sustain high-impact research and bring technologies to market”.
The Department has been supporting national plant breeding efforts. Through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the agency has supported key research initiatives on abaca, banana, coconut, mango, ornamental plants, vegetables, legumes, papaya, root crops, and other priority commodities.
These efforts have led to the development of improved varieties such as dwarf saba, Mapilak, and Sinta papaya, as well as new Hoya and Hibiscus varieties. Each possesses desired productivity and quality traits.
“We have also supported IPB’s National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, through the program ‘Restoring Crop Diversity at the National Germplasm Repository’, and the ‘Documentation of Indigenous Vegetables in the Philippines’. These initiatives are essential to preserving our heritage crops and ensuring long-term food resilience,” Solidum said.
The International Plant Breeding Conference 2025 is a two-day scientific gathering that has brought together distinguished speakers, experts, students, and partners to exchange knowledge and present research on recent breakthroughs in plant breeding.
It aims to seek fresh perspectives in plant breeding and pave new pathways for the next 50 years.
In addition, supporting national plant breeding efforts is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph. (By Claire Bernadette A. Mondares, DOST-STII)
Samples of different legume crop varieties sealed in a glass jar. (Photo from Karen Vivien A. Conducto, Office of DOST Secretary)
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. delivers his keynote message during the first-ever International Plant Breeding Conference, in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Institute of Plant Breeding, held on June 26, 2025, at Manila Hotel. (Photo from Karen Vivien A. Conducto, Office of DOST Secretary)
