DA-PCC, Hungarian university team up for research and technical innovation

 

The DA-PCC, led by Deputy Executive Director for Production and Research Dr. Claro N. Mingala and Research and Development Division Chief Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva, forged a research and technical collaboration with the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) during a recent visit to Budapest, Hungary. A memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to launch the partnership.

The parties agreed to do collaboration in the areas of knowledge exchange and technical cooperation on food safety, livestock biotechnology research, advanced agricultural mechanization, and exchange of expertise in areas of common interest to both parties.

In the duration of their visit from May 10 to 14, the DA-PCC team conducted an exposure trip on varying undertakings of MATE such as the La Fattoria di Mez?túr Company in Mez?túr City, a 100- head Italian Mediterranean Buffalo farm. The six-year-old farm practices extensive management with daily milk production of 10-12 liters.

The team also headed over to vitafort Zrt in Dabas City, Hungary’s biggest animal feed company where they were briefed about its pioneering work and innovations for the past 40 years.

The team also visited the university’s Animal Biotechnology and Embryo Laboratory in Herceghalom City. Here, Professor Dr. Andras Kovacs and Dr. Szilard Bodo shared about their latest research findings on biotechnology similar to DA-PCC’s researches like embryo transfer, sperm sexing, in-vitro fertilization and cryobanking, among others.

The team were then toured to the Game Management Landscape and Ranch in B?szénfa. This is a 1,300-hectare game farm that houses several animals including red deer, fallow deer, water buffalo, donkey, goats, ducks and horses. While it works as a preservation and conservation facility for the animals, it also generates income as a tourist attraction site.

Philippine Ambassador to Hungary, Ambassador Frank R. Cimafranca and Ria E. Gorospe, Second Secretary and Consul also joined the DA-PCC delegation to discuss possible ways to increase the number of Filipino scholars taking graduate studies in Hungary and Europe with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The MOU was held on the last day with MATE University Professor and Rector Dr. Gyuricza Csaba, Szandra Megyery, and Dr. László Máthé. Apart from DA-PCC team and office of the Philippine Ambassador, DAPCC OIC-Executive Director Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo and Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Titanilla Toth, and Vice Consul and Head of Commercial Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Manila Gábor Leh?cz was also present online.

The newfound partnership is expected to open doors for significantly improving the management processes and technologies by researchers in the Philippines. The ultimate objective of which is to give farmers better services to increase their production and income.

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