MMSU clinches two best paper awards at SUC-ACAP confab

Written by Administrator on 02 September 2025

By Joycel Lagrio, STRATCOM Correspondent


Researchers of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) won two Best Paper Awards at the 2025 State Universities and Colleges–Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (SUC-ACAP) Biennial Conference and General Assembly, held on August 27-29, 2025, at the Metro Center Hotel, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.


The conference, co-hosted by Bohol Island State University, was organized by SUC-ACAP, a professional network of Philippine higher education institutions in agriculture and allied sciences, of which MMSU is an active member. With the theme “Future-Proofing Agriculture Education: Fostering Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Agriculture,” the event was attended by leaders, experts, and researchers from 61 SUCs in the country.


The paper From Wild Foods to Policy Innovation: MMSU’s Indigenous Food Plants Program as a Model for Sustainable and Inclusive Agriculture by Dr. Menisa Antonio, with co-authors Maria Concepcion Birginias, Josefa Pugat, Maingeline Vivit, and Ruby Rose Tamayo, was hailed as best in the category Sustainable and Smart Agri-Aquaculture and Climate Resilience. Meanwhile, Blending Traditional and Digital Media: A Complementary Extension Approach to Promoting Sustainable Goat Production in Ilocos Norte, Philippines by Dr. Sean Vidad, with co-authors Mercy Fausta Gaño, Marilou Lucas, Sherlyn Nicolas, Richard Guinsatao, Romielyn Raguindin, Ma. Constancia Yapo, and Rolando Rabanal, emerged as the top paper in the category Agribusiness, Rural Development, Policy, and Extension Services.


The Indigenous Food Plants Program, which has spanned more than a decade of research, has elevated once-overlooked wild food plants into a comprehensive model that integrates conservation, innovation, policy, and education. Its contributions range from strengthening climate resilience to improving nutrition and sustaining rural livelihoods. On the other hand, the School-on-the-Air Program, implemented from June 2023 to February 2024 by MMSU’s Extension Directorate in partnership with academic units, local collaborators, and Ilocos Norte radio stations, successfully blended traditional radio with social media to broaden the reach of goat production technologies among farmers and stakeholders.


Aside from the two winning entries, MMSU faculty-researchers also presented other notable studies. Dr. Raymund Julius Rosales of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development presented two papers: Influence of Fruit Storage of Bitter Gourd (???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????) on Seed Germination and Seedling Vigor and Light-Emitting Diodes as Supplementary Light for Indoor Cultivation of Cabbage Microgreens. 


MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. congratulated the researchers for their achievement. He said their success shows the strong research culture of the university and strengthens MMSU’s drive to create more meaningful innovations in agriculture for the people.

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