Los ba±os: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday the newly upgraded Biological Control Agent (BioCon) Facility and Tissue Culture Laboratory in Laguna are vital to enhancing the country's agricultural productivity. The two facilities, worth PHP6 million, were inaugurated at the Los Ba±os National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Center by the DA and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the importance of such facilities in addressing the effects of climate change. "The Tissue Culture Laboratory will ensure a steady supply of high-quality, disease-free planting materials," he stated. Complementary to healthy planting materials, the BioCon facility may be used for natural pest control as it aims to "mass-produce" biological agents, including "earwigs and beneficial fungi."

The DA emphasized that integrating healthy planting materials with natural pest control could lead to increased yields while minimizing environmental impact, benefiting both commercial growers and smallholder farmers. "This is especially crucial for the banana industry, which continues to face serious challenges due to Fusarium wilt," Tiu Laurel added. Aside from bananas, other crops may also be propagated in the BioCon facility, such as garlic, ginger, ube, and ornamentals.

The DA-BPI aims to benefit commercial growers and smallholder farmers through these facilities, contributing to a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector.