Mariano Marcos
State University

NBERIC researchers share sustainable food and plant science studies in Thailand

By Jareason Fabre

Researchers of the MMSU National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) shared studies on bioethanol development and plant health at the Sustainable Innovations in Food and Plant Science Symposium 2026, held on October 26–27 at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Dr. James Paul Madigal, NBERIC director, presented the paper “Nipa Sap-Derived Yeasts for Bioethanol Starter Culture Development” during the Natural Products, Microbial Resources and Bioinnovation session. The study explores the potential of nipa sap-derived yeasts for developing starter cultures used in bioethanol production.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thiara Celine Suarez, NBERIC chief of the Technical and Testing Section, presented “Comprehensive Analysis of Global and Japanese Distribution of Rose Viral Pathogens” during the Plant Health, Pest Management and Biological Sciences session. The research examines the distribution of rose viral pathogens, contributing to a better understanding of plant diseases.

The symposium was organized under the activities of the International Consortium of Universities in South and Southeast Asia for Doctoral Education in Agricultural Science and Biotechnology (IC-GU12), an international academic consortium established through the initiative of Gifu University.

Dr. Madigal expressed his gratitude to MMSU, through University President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., for supporting the team’s research efforts. He also shared his hope that more of NBERIC’s research will reach communities outside the country and find practical applications that can make a difference in people’s lives.

Aside from presenting their studies, Dr. Madigal and Dr. Suarez engaged with fellow researchers from across Asia in discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in research and the academe, including its guidelines and potential. They also exchanged ideas and explored opportunities for future research collaboration. Having earned their doctoral degrees in Japan, the two researchers brought their own academic experiences into these exchanges while learning from the work and perspectives of their fellow researchers. Such connections help open doors for collaboration and create opportunities for research to reach wider audiences and benefit more communities. 

Next year, the symposium will be hosted by Guangxi University in China, continuing the exchange of research and ideas among scholars. Looking ahead, the NBERIC team is also exploring the possibility of hosting the symposium at MMSU in the coming years, which would bring researchers from across the region to the university and provide a platform for sharing innovations in food and plant science. 

📷𝘔𝘔𝘚𝘜 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳