By Ronan Punzalan, Intern

To explore what Mariano Marcos State University offers for further collaboration, officials of United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Trade and Industry Region 1 visited the Mariano Marcos State University - National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center today, August 11. 

USDA Agricultural Counselor Mr. Morgan Haas, Agricultural Specialist Ms. Florence Sevilla, and DTI Region 1 Director Grace F. Baluyan and staff met with MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and university officials.

In the Conference Room of the center, various functions of NBERIC were presented along with the Nipa Bioethanol which was discussed by President Agrupis.

Haas shared positive response to the project presented and emphasizing “we definitely look forward in working with ethanol, and obviously we are interested in other areas of innovation”. 

PCSA further discussed that Nipa is ‘cheap, sustainable and self-supporting plant’ addressing the question of DTI Region 1 Director Baluyan on Nipa plant production.

DTI Region 1 Director Baluya expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with USDA and MMSU.

Furthermore, President Agrupis led the tour in visiting the NBERIC facilities, MMSU Food Products and Innovation Center (FPIC), and Research and Development Extension (RDE). (HLY/APT, StratCom)