LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES – Mr. Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali, Chief Executive Officer of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), visited the Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Food Science of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CAFS–UPLB) on 19 November.
Mr. Salim was warmly received by Dr. Amado Angeles, Dean of CAFS–UPLB; Dr. Eureka Teresa Ocampo, Director of the Institute of Crop Science; and Dr. Matilde Maunahan, Director of the Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center. He was accompanied by Mr. Christian Cangao, Information Officer of TFNet.
Established in 1909, CAFS is the Philippines’ premier institution for agricultural and food science education, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs that promote science-based and sustainable development in the sector.
During the meeting, Mr. Salim presented TFNet’s key functions and initiatives, including its roles in knowledge and information exchange, capacity building and training, technical services and consultancy, research and advocacy, and facilitating trade and market access to support the global tropical fruit sector.
A major highlight of the discussion was TFNet’s proposal to develop a Young Ambassadors for Tropical Fruits Program in partnership with UPLB. The initiative aims to provide a platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students to present their research while engaging in capacity-building activities and mentorship with experts and industry leaders.
TFNet plans to implement the program in four Member Countries, with the Philippines identified as a pilot site. The proposal has also been presented to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Inputs from these partners will be vital in shaping the final design of the programme.
The UPLB team also strongly supported TFNet’s proposal and conveyed their readiness to formalize the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
During the dialogue, Dr. Ocampo shared that UPLB students are currently undertaking research on genome sequencing of various Philippine mango species and postharvest technologies for mango.
In the afternoon, Mr. Salim visited the Fruit Crops Nursery of the Crop Production and Management Division, Institute of Crop Science, where he met with its head, Dr. Norma Medina.
