DPM completes biocontrol lab renovation to capacitate pest management research

To address the need for adept space for testing beneficial microorganisms to control pests or biocontrol agents, the VSU Department of Pest Management upgraded the old biocontrol room into a bigger facility to mass produce and maintain these biocontrol agents.

The newly-refurbished facility named Beneficials and Biocontrol Laboratory or B2L (pronounced as ‘beetle’) was soft-launched on July 11, 2024, during the inauguration and site visit of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCCAARD) to its funded projects at VSU.

VSU DPM extended its gratitude to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) through its Coconut Hybridization Program for supporting the renovation of the biocontrol laboratory.

This five million B2L is a merged facility between the biotech and biocon or weeds laboratories. Now, it has sections for insect biology studies and rearing, microbial isolation, testing and mass production, and molecular analysis.

The old biocontrol laboratory of DPM was damaged during Super Typhoons Haiyan (Yolanda) and Rai (Odette) and Tropical Storm Megi (Agaton). In previous cases, many of the biocontrol agents were lost and were not yet molecularly characterized because of the lack of proper storage facilities and the unavailability of the technology to maintain these agents.

Thus, a need for a new facility with new equipment to mass produce biocontrol agents and improve biocontrol and pest management research. The establishment of this laboratory is under the leader of Dr. Justine Bennette H. Millado, VSU entomologist in the Upgrading of a Mass Production Facility for Biological Control Agents to Support Sustainable Pest Management of Coconut and Intercrops in Eastern Visayas.

Albeit not fully operational as of this writing, the laboratory is open to Viscans, government agencies, and other stakeholders who will venture into biocontrol programs.

DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora together with other officials of the funding agency inspected B2L and other PCAARRD-funded laboratories and facilities in the university.

With this upgraded laboratory, the university sees it as the center of biocontrol studies in the region that can extend help to farmers and government agencies.

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