BRIGHT prospects loom ahead for the Ilocos Norte’s black garlic industry as representatives of three big agencies in Japan visited the province on May 22 to help local farmers improve their garlic yield and introduce the technique of producing black garlic from the fresh crop. This was a joint initiative of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) and MMSU.

The three agencies are the Takara Inc. (TI), represented by its president, Kimio Takarada; Takko-Machi Garlic Center (TMGC), represented by its director, Keiko Sato; and the Hirosaki University - Department of Emergency Medical Technology (HU-DEMT), represented by Dr. Jin-Ichi Sasaki.

These agencies, which are involved in the production and commercialization of garlic value-added products, have agreed to tie-up with PGIN and MMSU to help the Ilocos Norte Black Garlic reach national and international markets.

In a partnership meeting held May 22 at the MMSU Hostel, Mr. Takarada and his company have agreed not only to cooperate in increasing the garlic production in the province through the improved Japanese technology, but also the production of black gralic, a delicious and exotic product from fresh garlic, which is a sought-after food supplement and an ingredient of expensive culinary recipes in Japan and other countries.

The scope of cooperation includes the introduction of Japanese garlic production technologies for adaptability testing in Ilocos Norte to further develop and improve the existing black garlic production method under Philippine condition, to develop a national and international market for black garlic, and establish a Garlic Museum and Exhibition Center in the province.

Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, project leader of MMSU’s black garlic production program, said this partnership will pave the way for the successful commercialization of the high-value commodity in the province and in the country.

Under the agreement, the university shall provide experimental farms, basic equipment, laboratory spaces for garlic R&D, and research staff to implement the project.

For their part, the three Japanese agencies shall develop the production of black garlic in Ilocos Norte using the locally-produced Ilocos White variety; establish black garlic production and marketing facilities; get support from the Japanese government on garlic R&D, processing, production, and commercialization; help MMSU in its garlic R&D; engage MMSU faculty members in undertaking R&D in the HU-DEMT  laboratories; help MMSU staff to pursue postgraduate studies and training at the HU-DEMT; and get financial support from the Japanese government for the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, the PGIN has promised to get support from the national government and develop a good market potential of black garlic not only in Ilocos Norte, but on a national scale. (By Reynaldo E. Andres)