AGRI Developments has announced the establishment of their latest R&D initiative in Bayawan City, Philippines
The R&D initiative aims to accelerate the growth of AGRI Developments’ existing mango operations, support its research on other crops, and help the city meet its agricultural objectives.
The initiative is an integral part of the company’s mission and encompasses a nursery for plant propagation and a research and development laboratory. Frans van Egeraat, CEO, AGRI Developments, said, “Our strategy at AGRI Developments has always been to move up the value chain and into different business verticals. Our R&D initiative is just a small step towards what we are trying to accomplish. It provides us with the ability to transplant and expand all our operations at a significantly shorter timeframe than previously.”
The CEO added that the new on-site nursery and lab has already proved beneficial in providing AGRI Developments with improved stock to expand its existing mango development earlier than expected. Elena Taborada, an experienced farmer who has worked for the Department of Agriculture, Bayawan City in Negros Oriental for over 26 years, will oversee the R&D initiative.
As an agricultural technician for Bayawan City, Taborada has overseen the government’s efforts to expand production, increase productivity and diversify the region’s agricultural production. She has overseen all operational aspects of agricultural production including technical soil and lab analysis, propagation, land preparation and crop yield optimisation. She has developed and supervised the creation of agricultural projects across the entire province covering crops such as mangoes, avocados, bananas, rice, corn, coffee and rubber.
“Taborada has a vast amount of experience across multiple key, regional and economically significant crops which will be of instrumental value for us in the long run. We are glad to be working together and look forward to strengthening our close relationship with Bayawan City further with our R&D initiative,” said the CEO.
