Fruit from Heaven

6 8 10 20 22 26 CONTENTS BAR R&D Digest | Vol. 17 | Issue No. 4 | October - December 2015 3 R&D Notes: Food security in biodiversity 4 Carving out a niche for native crops and livestock 5 Edible Canna: Potential source of flour 6 Saving the vanishing silver perch 8 Balbas bariko: Fruit from heaven 10 Big things are on its way for Bignay 12 Lato: Nutritious grapes from the sea 14 A bright future for the nightshades 16 Lubeg: indigenous fruit, now Apayao’s pride 18 Marbling, unique taste of native pig 20 Healthy and flavorful native chickens 22 Cracking product lines from Pili 24 Blooming potentials from the unexpected Roselle 26 Sustaining the rare Tikod Amo 28 Tinawon heirloom rice is saving Ifugao Rice Terraces 30 Getting to know Huani mango 2 October – December 2015 BAR R&D DIGEST R&D Notes Food security in biodiversity BY DR. NICOMEDES P. ELEAZAR, CESO IV iodiversity plays an production, raising incomes, coping environment. We believe that a important role in ensuring with environmental constraints loss in biodiversity has serious Bfood security and and managing ecosystems. implications on global food substantial income for our small Recognizing, safeguarding and security. farmers. It is through the different using the potential and diversity of To increase the plant and animal species available to nature is critical for food security productivity of our crops and us that the country’s food demand and sustainable agriculture. their reliability and nutritional is being continuously sustained and Food security, being an quality—which is the life-line of our provided for. important aspect in strengthening food producers—we must make But with the increasing the country’s biodiversity, must full use of the genetic diversity population and the inability of also be focused on the importance of our country. Sustainable our farmers to meet the demand of conservation. We need to agriculture can provide solutions for more food, the country’s per strike a good balance between to issues arising from conventional capita food production continues to food security and environmental agriculture as it works on the decrease. protection. This is in relation to premise of enhancing our Biodiversity is threatened the rapid exploitation of our rich biodiversity. by the degradation of our natural resources and natural habitats that In this issue of the BAR resources that could globally provide the proper ecosystems for R&D Digest we give recognition impact the availability of food. the existence of our diverse plant to our indigenous and endemic Expanding agricultural productivity and animal species. crops and livestock species. These to meet food needs in the face of The country’s food security encapsulate our efforts in the an increasing competition for our is affected by the performance of agriculture and fisheries R&D in natural resources and the declining agriculture. The underdevelopment recognizing the country as having soil fertility is the real challenge of of agriculture could significantly a mega diverse resource that our time. affect food production and prices can both address food security Reduction of biodiversity of agricultural commodities. and still guarantee that the next entails an increase in the number However, its development generations will still have enough of options for ensuring more should not be done at the food to eat and enough natural diverse nutrition, enhancing food expense of biodiversity and our resources to enjoy. ### BAR R&D DIGEST October – December 2015 3 Carving out a niche for native crops and livestock BY VICTORIANO B. GUIAM ndigenous and endemic crops percent are endemic. More than 3,000 1) the introduction and spread of and livestock are now beginning various plant species in the country high yielding and new varieties of Ito be seen in better light and have been significant to the lives of crops, livestock, and fish species that gaining broad acceptance. There is the Filipino nation as food, medicine, have displaced indigenous ones; really a lot more to our native species fibers, essential oils, and timber and as 2) intensification of the agricultural than today’s globally-oriented people ornamentals. system and establishment of think. With the diversity in genetic commercial plantations that have By indigenous we mean resources useful to food and made growing habitats less favorable species or subspecies of wild flora agriculture, we have a rich source of for indigenous plants and animals; and fauna naturally occurring or have genetic materials for the improvement 3) overexploitation and excessive a naturally established population of crops and livestock. (Cultivated gathering of wild plants and animals; in the country. On the other hand, crops, and their closely related 4) inadvertent introduction of pests endemic plant and animal species wild species, collectively form part and diseases; and 3) destruction of are those that are found only in the of what is known as plant genetic the natural environment/ecosystem, country and nowhere else. resources or PGR. PGR together including environmental pollution, With the Philippines’ with domesticated and wild animals, with urbanization and population geological history and it being to include microorganisms, that pressure. But the biggest threat is in separate from the rest of Asia and the provide genetic material and other people’s neglect and apathy towards world, its unique physical conditions support to agricultural ecosystems the preservation of agrobiodiversity. have given rise to high species and productivity, are referred to as Most countries today diversity. On a per hectare basis, “agrobiodiversity” which is a subset of have found sense in developing the country has one of the highest biodiversity.) With this resource, yields appropriate conservation strategies diversity of life on earth. According can be increased along with resistance to protect plant and animal genetic to the International Union for the to pests and diseases and the vagaries materials, ecosystems, and the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), of weather and climate. With greater traditional knowledge associated with the Philippines ranks fourth in the productivity come greater availability them from genetic erosion and loss of world in terms of species diversity of food, higher incomes, and poverty agrobiodiversity. and endemism. A total of 39,100 alleviation. In June 1992, a historic species of flora and fauna have been Our resource of indigenous event was held, the United Nations identified in the country, of which a and endemic plants and animals Conference for Environment and high 67 percent are endemic. Some important to agriculture Development (UNCED) or Earth 15,000 species of flora have been (agrobiodiversity) is under great Summit. This produced the blueprint identified. Of the 8,120 species of threat and losses have been high. for a global environmental agenda, flowering plants found here, 40 These have been mainly due to: continue on page 31 4 October – December 2015 BAR R&D DIGEST CannaEdible POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FLOUR BY ANNE CAMILE B. BRION ntroduced widely, cultivated in of Agriculture, University of the tropical countries, and has been Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) explored Inaturalized in regions including on its uses as part of the project, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Canna “Utilization and Commercialization (Canna indica L.) is a flowering herb of Selected Indigenous and Endemic that grows up to 2.5 meters in height. Plants Found in Region IV with Abundantly growing throughout the Potential Economic Uses”. Funded by Philippines, Canna is popularly known the Bureau of Agricultural Research as Bandera Española (Spanish flag) due (BAR), the initiative sought to increase to the vibrant red and yellow colors public awareness on some of the of its flowers. Most often, it is used endemic and indigenous plants as an ornamental plant – either as that can be found in the region and potted indoor plant or landscape plant. promote them as potential sources of Its local name includes balunsaying, food and non-food products. kukuwintasan, and tikas-tikas. As a component of the Many of its parts are found project, collected wild species of useful in a variety of ways. For Canna in some areas in Laguna, instance, young shoots can be eaten Batangas, and Rizal were propagated. as vegetables while its leaves and These were further cultivated for field rhizomes are utilized as animal feed, reproduction and were harvested fodder, and forage for cattle and five months after planting. The to serve as planting materials for swine. Canna leaves and stems, when rhizomes were processed into flour future related researches and product burned, are used in pest management. and subjected for food composition development undertakings. Research Seeds are formed into beads and analysis. and development must be continually made into accessories, or as part of Proximate analysis of tapped to realize the full potentials of percussion instruments such as rattles. Canna flour as compared to other indigenous plants that are just waiting In traditional medicine, rhizome extracts flours including cassava, wheat, and to be explored. ### are believed to be an effective remedy bread was conducted. Initial results for headaches, diarrhea, nose bleeding, showed that the Canna flour contains References: and as a diuretic. relatively higher crude fiber content, Balladares, M.C. and Tayobong, R. While Canna is mostly but lower crude fat and crude protein. (2014). Progress report. Utilization and recognized for its aesthetic value, it also In addition, it has relatively higher Commercialization of Selected Indigenous and Endemic Plants Found in Region IV with produces rhizomes underground, which amount of carbohydrates than Potential Economic when processed, are turned into edible cassava flour. When compared with starch and flour. In Vietnam, it is used other commercial flours, Canna flour Cabi.org,. (n.d.). Canna indica (canna lilly). in making noodles. On the other hand, was found to have lower total starch. Retrieved 25 January 2016, from http://www.

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