Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU climate center chief presents innovation project at Royal Academy of Engineering in UK

By Benedict Jay Collado

Dr. Cristina Valentin, chief of the MMSU Regional Research and Training Center for Climate Change Studies, presented her innovation project on garlic storage at the Royal Academy of Engineering in the United Kingdom during the culmination of the Leadership Innovation Fellowship (LIF), from June 26 to July 14.
 

The initiative presented is a component of the NICER Garlic Program’s Project 3 titled "Development of Small Scale Garlic Structure," led by Research Director Dioniso Bucao. Funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the project focuses on extending the shelf life of harvested garlic.

Dr. Valentin, through the LIF, then engaged in rigorous consultations, development training, masterclasses, and dedicated one-on-one mentorships to effectively introduce this project to local farmers and integrate it into their daily lives. 

The fellowship is designed to help science and engineering trailblazers transform high-impact research into commercially viable and sustainable enterprises.
 

The 2026 cohort included early-stage tech founders and original inventors from five participating nations: Brazil, India, Jordan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Twelve of the pool are from the Philippines, and Dr. Valentin is among the Filipino innovators who participated in the fellowship.
 

It helped the innovators develop their projects for commercialization, with zero quality loss and ecosystem support, turning solutions to address pressing economic, social, and developmental challenges into scalable market solutions. 

Dr. Valentin thanked the university officials for supporting her application, describing the program as a deeply transformative experience that offered an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with mentors and connect with international peers.
 

“LIF Global has been an incredibly meaningful journey,” she shared. “The insights and mentorship I gained have been greatly appreciated, and I am now eager to take the next step by bringing the technologies generated from our research projects directly to the community where they can make a real-world impact.”