The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that the Philippine government is considering partnerships in fruit crop development with Spain. A high-level delegation from the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently visited the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) Fruitcentre in Lleida, Spain, to examine its innovative agricultural practices.
Led by DA Undersecretary for High-Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, the delegation met with IRTA officials to discuss enhancing the quality, yield, diversification, and marketability of Philippine fruit crops. This initiative aims to strengthen the agricultural sector through global partnerships and innovative research, potentially leading to the establishment of a similar fruit research center in the Philippines.
The visit also highlighted new heat-tolerant fruit varieties developed by IRTA suitable for the Philippine climate. These varieties align with the DA’s goals to diversify and expand high-value fruit crops. The DA plans to further explore IRTA’s operational models and potential collaborations.
(Source: Philippine News Agency)
