September 24, 2025
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1259477
BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine government, through the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), renews its commitment to harnessing global best practices to future-proof the sugar industry, following its return to the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) Congress.
For the first time in 40 years, representatives from the SRA took part in the ISSCT Congress held in Cali, Colombia, in the last week of August, with more than a thousand delegates from 60 countries.
“The SRA’s participation allowed us to learn from the best practices of other sugar-producing countries. We emphasize the importance of benchmarking the Philippines’ initiatives with global practices,” Ma. Lourdes Almodiente, SRA OIC-deputy administrator for research, development, and extension, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Almodiente represented the Philippines along with Rachel Sarol, head of the SRA-Luzon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (LGAREC) Breeding Program.
“Participating in the Centennial Congress reaffirmed that our local research efforts are aligned with global directions. However, it also showed us areas where we can further strengthen our programs to better serve our farmers,” she noted.
According to the SRA, the Philippines’ comeback to the ISSCT is “not only about reconnecting with the international community, but also about ensuring that Filipino sugarcane farmers benefit from the latest scientific advances.”
These global best practices range from climate-resilient varieties to precision farming aimed at future-proofing the sugar industry and securing better yields and resilience for sugarcane farmers.
“Moving forward, the agency plans to integrate global best practices into breeding, research, and pest management programs while forging stronger local and international partnerships,” it added.
Meanwhile, Sarol shared that the valuable discussions on molecular breeding and variety improvement are relevant to SRA’s current efforts.
“The discussions on molecular breeding and variety improvement are particularly valuable for our work at SRA-LGAREC,” she added.
Sarol said such learning will help enhance the SRA breeding program in its goal to deliver high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-adaptive varieties to Filipino farmers. (PNA)