20^TH Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines

May 19 to 21, 2009

The Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines (FCSSP) held its 20th Annual Scientific Conference at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on 18-23 May 2009. The conference opening program was hosted by Dr. Jessica Rey, the CSSP treasurer. The program was opened by the FCSSP President Dr. Wenifredo T. Oñate of the Philippine Fruit Association and the President of the Camarines Norte State College of Agriculture. Dr. Ben Malayang III gave the welcome remarks where he expressed his appreciation in hosting this year’s FCSSP conference. The keynote speech on the theme “Meeting the Challenges of Water and Energy Crisis” was delivered by the Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Dr. Segfredo R. Serrano. The poster exhibit was also opened by the honorees Usec Serrano and Dr. Ben Malayang.

Plenary speakers include Dr. Antonio C. Laurena who talked on Biotechnolgy; Dr. Felino P. Lansigan on Agricultural Productivity and Water Resources Availability in a Changing Climate in the Philippines, both from UPLB; Mr. Alex Amor, a farmer-businessman presented his talk on Green Farm Systems-Agribusiness in Organic Negros; and Dr. Manuel L. Logroño of Syngenta on Increasing Productivity through Integrated Crop Solutions. Drs. Rhodora R. Aldemita, Lilian Pateña and Oñate, served as moderators in the plenary sessions, respectively.

The business meeting was conducted in the morning of the first day immediately after the first plenary session. Dr. Aldemita presided over the meeting which was attended by 174 members. The agenda and minutes of the business meeting were approved. The president announced that there are four outgoing BOD members that include: Drs. Aldemita, Nenita V. Desamero, Manuel Gaspar, and Mr. Renato A. Reaño. The outgoing BOD members are also the members of the CSSP election committee with Mr. Reaño as the chair. The election guidelines were discussed for implementation in the next two days. The president then proceeded to the President’s report which included the main topics: the BOD members and officers; BOD meetings; BOD resolutions; BOD member’s assignments in conferences; the updates and new features of the Phil Journal of Crop Science and the sourcing of funds; the CSSP Website; the BOD’s involvement in the FCSSP Conference; and the BOD assessment on CSSP’s membership in the Philippine Association of Agriculturists. The president gave the pros and cons in being a member of the PAA whereupon after an exchange of opinions, an election was conducted to decide 1) if the general assembly should make the decision on the matter instead of the board, and 2) if the general assembly wants CSSP to be a member of the PAA. An open election was conducted and the general assembly unanimously voted on the first motion. The general assembly then conducted an election for the second motion, whereupon 101 members voted in favor versus 31 who are not in favor. The president then presented the challenges for the next year’s set of BOD (see President’s Report).

The treasurer Dr. Jessica Rey presented the un-audited treasurer’s report. She promised though that the edited report will be posted in the website. The president then proceeded on discussing the plans for the 2010 CSSP with Diversity for Life as the running theme. The date of the conference and other related issues will be posted in the website by July 2009. Pointers were further discussed on the submission of the abstracts for presentation. Few questions were raised on the printing of the program in the venue, the color of the book of abstracts, and on the preparation of two books instead of just one to save on cost.

More than 250 participants from across the country participated in the concurrent sessions, poster presentations, best paper and poster competitions and farmers’ forum. There were four concurrent sessions conducted on the second day with 60 papers presented in extension & education, crop production and management, crop protection, crop physiology and biochemistry, plant breeding and genetics, plant genetic resources, postharvest handling and utilization, soil and plant nutrition and socioeconomics. A total of 117 posters were presented in similar categories plus two new categories: agroforestry and forest entomology.

The fellowship night was highlighted by a dinner buffet sponsored by Silliman University. Drs. Ben Malayang and Manuel Logroño graced the occasion with the later giving a short message. Mr. Tom Clemeno and Ms. Venus Elec hosted the program. There were song and dance numbers rendered by participants from IRRI, PhilRice and UPLB. Surprise dance numbers were given by the FCSSP President and his wife Engr. Nila Oñate and the CSSP President and her husband Nestor. Through the cooperation of the local organizing committee headed by Dean Santiago Utzurrum, the Silliman University provided two song and dance numbers.

The Agro-entrepreneur’s forum was organized in cooperation with the local organizing committee headed by Dean Utzurrum and sponsored by the Vice-Governor of Negros Oriental. Around 91 farmers, students, and conference participants attended the forum. Dr. Virgilio T. Villancio presented the talk of Mr. Mariz Agbon, the President of the PADCC of the Department of Agriculture on the DA Biofuel Feedstock Production Roadmap. The mayor of Bayawan City discussed the Local Initiatives in Promoting Biofuel; The Bayawan City Experience. The forum was hosted by Dean Utzurrum and Dr. Wenifredo Oñate.

The awards night held during the last evening of the convention was hosted by Drs. Virgilio T. Villancio (PFA president) and Emma K. Sales (CSSP vice president). On behalf of the Governor, the Chairman of the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council Florante J. Vicuña gave a short message. Dr. Oñate inducted the new members of all the societies and Dr. Julian Lapitan inducted the new set of FCSSP officers. The new set of CSSP officers were inducted by Dr. Darshan Brar that include: Dr. Emma K. Sales (University of Southern Mindanao), president, Dr. Jessica Rey (IRRI) vice-president, Mr. Ramon A. Oliveros (IRRI), secretary; Ms. Darlene Sanchez (IRRI), treasurer; Dr. Sergio Francisco (PhilRice), auditor; Dr. Antonio Alfonso (PhilRice), PRO; board members: Mr. Tomas P. Clemeno (IRRI), Ms. Venus Elec (IRRI), Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas (PhilRice), Dr. Gabriel O. Romero (PhilRice) and Dr. Leoncia L. Tandang (BSU), and Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita (ISAAA) ex-officio.

Mr. Ramon Oliveros, member of the Awards Committee assisted Dr. Aldemita, the CSSP president in handing over the achievement awards. Dr. Casiana M. Vera Cruz and Dr. Romeo V. Labios of IRRI received the 2009 CSSP Honorary Fellow Award. Other achievement awardees include Dr. Danilo Padua of Benguet State University (Teaching), Mr. Ambrosio Raul Alfiler of the Philippine Coconut Authority-Albay Research Station (Research), Ms. Marilyn M. Beltran of UPLB (Extension), Dr. Teresita M. Espino of UPLB (Extension) and Mr. Pio C. Morito of Monsanto (W. Dar Research Management). Each awardee gave a few words of response.

Dr. Aldemita, the chair of the paper committee gave the certificate of recognition to the best paper finalists. There were 18 papers submitted for best paper competition but only 12 were considered. The best paper upstream research went to Roel Rodriguez Suralta, Yoshiaki Inukai and Akira Yamauchi for the paper “Shoot dry matter production in relation to plastic root growth responses of rice to transient soil moisture stresses.” The paper entitled “Performance of submergence-tolerant rice (Sub1 Lines) in adaptability trials in Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines” by Georgina V. Vergara, Romeo V. Labios, Alvaro M. Pamplona, Nenita V. Desamero, Kuoang Duoangsila, Aris Hairmansis, Manuel Q. Esguerra, Marlon A. Malabrigo, Abdelbagi M. Ismail and David J. Mackill bagged the best paper in downstream research. In the socioeconomics category, the paper authored by PhilRice and IRRI researchers Alice Mataia, Nelissa Jamora, Piedad Moya and David Dawe on “What are the sources of yield growth? Changes in crop management practices, input use and technology adoption in Philippine rice farming”, won.

Four outgoing CSSP Board Members were also given recognition and appreciation by the CSSP president: Dr. Joe E. Hernandez, ex-officio member, Dr. Nenita V. Desamero, Dr. Manuel Gaspar and Mr. Renato A. Reaño, board members.

Judges in the best paper category made an active search for the best poster even if there were 18 posters submitted for best poster competition. Prof. Lilian F. Pateña, chair of the poster committee announced the winners. Venus Elec, Jessica Rey, Zang JinPing, Sun Yong, Xu Jianlong and Zhikang Li garnered first place for the poster “Dissection of genetic overlap of salt tolerance QTLs at the seedling and tillering stages using backcross introgression line in rice”. Second place went to Darlene Sanchez, Nurul Hidayatun, Pamella Marie DV. Sendon, Sagar Chawla, Alvaro M. Pamplona, Endang M. Septiningsih and David J. Mackill for the poster “Single-backcross approach to transfer submergence tolerance from IR64-Sub1 to related rice varieties”. The PhilRice paper on Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI): A water saving rice-based crop production technique authored by Noel D. Ganotisi, Romel A. Batuac, Reynaldo C. Cruz, and Leylani M. Juliano won the third place.

Dr. Lilian F. Pateña the incoming president of the FCSSP gave the closing remarks who gave an idea on how and where the next FCSSP conference will be.
A half day field tour organized by Dean Utzurrum was conducted on the last day of the conference. Around 30 participants were treated to a Silliman University bus tour, a visit to the organic farm of Mr. Alex Amor, and to the SU marine laboratory.

Even with few problems encountered in the planning, preparation and even in the conference itself, the conference was a resounding success. This is due to the help of the national and local organizing committees with very pronounced participation of the CSSP. CONGRATULATIONS FCSSP and LONG LIVE CSSP!!!!