IN 2009, THE CENTER'S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

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1 FFTC Annual Report Introduction IN 2009, THE CENTER'S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES addressed factors currently affecting global agriculture: high energy prices and the need for alternative sources of energy; consumer demand for stricter food safety standards and higher quality agricultural products; deteriorating natural resources such as land, water, energy, biodiversity; and scarcity in resources that affect the input and output of agricultural production system. FFTC continues to face up to the challenges that each year brings. In 2009, the Center embarked on programs and activities related to the sustainability of natural resources and the environment through ecologically sound agricultural practices, enhancement of rural development and entrepreneurship, exploring alternative sources of energy, and meeting changing market and consumer preferences through high-quality foods and safety standards amid recent trends in economic development and globalization. Summarized below are the major programs and activities of the Center in the year Development of phytoremediation technology for reducing hazardous chemical compounds in food Phytoremediation is the use of living green plants for in situ risk reduction and/or removal of contaminants from contaminated soil, water, sediments, and air. Specifically selected or engineered plants are used in the process. With the threat of a serious Cd and As contamination in soil and water in the region, FFTC collaborated with the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), Japan in the conduct of a workshop session on phytoremediation technology during the Monsoon Asia Agro-Environmental Research Consortium (MARCO) Symposium held in Tsukuba, Japan. Primarily, the workshop aimed to identify and develop reliable, economic, feasible, and effective phytoremediation technology for Cd- and As-polluted soil and water, as well as to propose practical and effective countermeasures in relation to food production. Sustainable management and utilization of forage resources In Asia, ruminant production provides livelihoods to a large number of small-scale livestock farmers. With forage crops being the most vital feed resource in any ruminant production system, practical and appropriate technologies in managing and utilizing forage-based feed resources are the key to sustainable ruminant production, as well as in enabling Asian small-scale farmers to cope and survive given the trend toward intensive production systems. This seminar was organized to come up with an integrated technology package covering: sustainable and safe forage crop production, as well as the identification of promising forage grasses indigenously available and/ or introduced from other countries; on-site detection of nutrient composition of forage crops and other techniques for efficient nutrient management; and improved and innovative utilization and processing techniques for foragebased feed resources to mitigate the scarcity during the dry season and ensure the availability of forage resources year-round. Development and adoption of green technologies for sustainable agriculture Green technologies are innovative technologies with the potential to steer agriculture along a sustainable path, and at the same time contribute to the advancement of economic and efficient production of safe and high-quality food; help small-scale farmers increase their income through high-value marketable farm produce and viable farm enterprises; and promote sustainable production methods to prevent harm to human health and the environment. The workshop served as a venue for the sharing and exchange of innovative and promising green technologies, as well as successful lessons and experiences on green technologies for the production of safe and high-quality food, green technologies for high-value commodity production, and development of promising green technologies for the enhancement of rural entrepreneurship.

2 2 FFTC Annual Report 2009 Pesticide and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) residues in the environments and their effects on food safety Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. This international seminar aimed to promote a better understanding of the current status of POPs distribution in the environments, particularly in arable soils in the ASPAC region, and to discuss the adverse effects of POPs on food safety based on recent and advanced studies in the region. Standards and appropriate use of chemical pesticides in the context of IPM systems were discussed and recommended for Asian small-scale farmers under intensive farming with short-duration crops such as vegetables. Agricultural and food policy reforms: addressing food security from the perspectives of Asian small-scale farmers The combined effect of population growth, strong income growth, and urbanization is expected to result in almost the doubling of demand for food, feed and fibre worldwide. In addition, global agriculture will have to cope with the growing scarcity of natural resources such as land, water and biodiversity, and the effects of climate change. The recent food crisis was said to have caused by changing weather patterns like unpredictable droughts in grain-producing nations, rising oil prices, increasing use of crops for biofuels, and a rising demand for a more varied diet across the expanding middle-class populations of Asia coupled with a declining world food stockpiles. This seminar deliberated on the diverse factors causing the instability and fluctuations in the prices of food products and farm inputs, with the intent to identify sound agricultural and food policy and strategies to mitigate the impact of the surge in prices on small-scale farmers and to attain sustainable food security in the region. Health management of pathogen-free citrus orchards In the past couple of decades, Asian citrus plantations have been suffering from a number of systemic virus and virus-like diseases, which have brought about serious yield loss and deterioration of fruit quality. Systemic diseases such as citrus greening (Huanglongbing or HLB) and other virus diseases can only be effectively controlled by integrated management such as introduction of pathogen-free (PF) seedlings, elimination of inoculum sources, and prevention of secondary infection transmitted by vector insects, and the establishment of pathogenfree nurseries. The training workshop was organized to intensify the transfer of the integrated HLB management technology developed in Taiwan to other Asian countries. The resource speakers provided lectures and hands-on demonstration on healthy management of citrus trees, and pruning and antibiotic injection to HLB infected trees for their chemotherapy. Health management of pathogen-free citrus seedling for the rehabilitation of the citrus industry from serious epidemic of HLB and virus diseases in Cambodia (Y1) This technology transfer program aims to strengthen the technical capacity of scientists and researchers in Cambodia in their fight against citrus greening (HLB) and other virus diseases. This two-year program will equip scientists, researchers, extension workers and farmers with techniques in the health management of pathogen-free (PF) seedlings transplanted in the field to enhance the rehabilitation of citrus orchards in the country. Strengthening the agricultural biotechnology capacity of Southeast Asian countries Taiwan's cutting-edge technology in agricultural biotechnology and its subsequent agro-industry applications provide a fertile learning ground for other countries in the Asian region. Hence, in collaboration with local and international partners, FFTC continues to embark on programs and activities to strengthen the agricultural biotechnology capacity of countries in Asia, banking on the rich and advanced experience of Taiwan in this area. The training-workshop primarily aimed to strengthen the agricultural biotechnology capacity of countries within the region in order to pave the way for the enhancement of their respective biotechnology industry. It was also envisioned to open doors for future cooperation and partnerships in the development of the agricultural biotechnology industry in the Asian region. Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residues (RBPR) on fruits and vegetables for market inspection and farm education In most developing countries in the ASPAC region where domestic production and marketing by smallscale farmers is common, one low-cost alternative to achieve quick test results for pesticide residues in order to protect local consumers from contaminated fruits and vegetables is the Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residues (RBPR). RBPR was developed in Taiwan for practical use in screening large samples so that contaminated produce can be withdrawn from the farm gate or local market before they reach the consumers.

3 FFTC Annual Report Summary of 2009 Work Program Project Title Type* Venue Co-sponsors Date Development of phytoremediation technology for WS Japan Oct reducing hazardous chemical compunds in food Sustainable management and utilization of forage- SM Indonesia IRIAP, LRI-COA Aug based feed resources for small-scale livestock farmers in the ASPAC region Development and adoption of green technologies for WS Philippines NIFTS, PCARRD Sept 28- sustainable agriculture and enhancement of rural Oct 02 entrepreneurship Pesticide and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) SM Taiwan NIAES, TACTRI, Oct residues in the environments and their effects on BAPHIQ-COA food safety NCHU Agricultural and food policy reforms: addressing food SM Korea NACF, RDA Aug security from the perspectives of Asian small-scale farmers Health management of pathogen-free citrus orchards TW Vietnam PPRI, SHRI Nov Health management of pathogen-free seedling for the TT Cambodia RUA, NTU Jan-Dec rehabilitation of the citrus industry from serious RDF epidemic of HLB and virus diseases in Cambodia (Y1) Agricultural biotechnology training-workshop for TC Taiwan SEARCA, Aug 31- Southeast Asian countries NTU, COA Sept 11 NSC, ATI Rapid Bioassay of Pesticide Residues (RBPR) on TC Taiwan SEARCA, May fruits and vegetables for market inspection ARI-COA and farm education APAARI F1 hybrid corn production in Caraga region, TT Philippines NORMISIST, Jan - Dec Philippines DA, MECO, COA *Type of Activity: MT=Meeting; ST=Study Meeting; SM=Seminar; WS=Workshop; TT=Technology Transfer; TC=Training Course; CR=Collaborative Research To share the benefits of the RBPR technology with countries in the ASPAC region, FFTC in cooperation with ARI-COA of Taiwan ROC spearheaded the conduct of this RBPR training workshop. F1 hybrid corn production in Caraga region, Philippines There is enormous potential for the Caraga region, Philippines to develop a comprehensive corn production program toward providing improved livelihood opportunities for its small-scale corn farmers. To realize this potential, this agricultural technical assistance program was launched to extend modern cultivation techniques and introduce hybrid corn varieties to corn farmers in Caraga region. With the technical assistance of scientists from Taiwan, the overall goal of this technology transfer program was to improve the productivity and achieve sustainable production of quality corn in the region through the extension of modern cultivation techniques and introduction of Taiwan hybrid corn varieties.

4 4 FFTC Annual Report 2009 FFTC publications and website on Asian agriculture The Center's publication program focuses on the vast and far-reaching potential of timely and relevant scientific and technological information in agriculture in enabling small-scale farmers to achieve improved agricultural productivity, make effective use of natural resources, raise their income, and produce food that is accessible, available and affordable to all. The most recent and relevant agricultural technology and information collected by the Center through its various activities are documented and published in the form of technical and extension bulletins, book series, newsletters, and a yearly publication on statistical agricultural indices in the region. Meanwhile, the FFTC website and database has become an important information resource on Asian agriculture, particularly for the national extension systems in the region. The growing use of the FFTC website/publication database gave a larger number of people worldwide access to the Center's technical and practical information on sustainable agriculture. Looking ahead For a regional organization like FFTC, the year 2009 presented lots of challenges as well as opportunities brought about by the new global agricultural environment. Its policy and program directions are now geared toward: helping small-scale farmers to adapt to the new environment through new approaches such as networking, enhanced capacity building, and on-site training and field demonstrations; and strengthening regional partnership in the ASPAC, with all players and partners, donors and beneficiaries from different countries linked together. The Center is also committed to contribute to the realization of an agricultural renaissance or the rebirth of agriculture in the ASPAC region by: helping narrow the gap between knowledge and implementation and strengthening information exchange; and navigating the region s agriculture into an information society, such as promoting digital infrastructure for rural areas and enhancement of traceability in the agro-food system. In the face of these challenges, technological innovation and international cooperation are the key.

5 FFTC Annual Report Co-sponsors of FFTC Programs in 2009 Japan National Institute of Fruit Tree Science (NIFTS) National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) Korea National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) Rural Development Administration (RDA) Taiwan ROC Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), COA Council of Agriculture (COA) Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) Livestock Research Institute (LRI), COA National Chung-Hsing University (NCHU) National Science Council (NSC) National Taiwan University (NTU) Rural Development Foundation (RDF) Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals & Toxic Substances Research Institute (TACTRI) Philippines Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) Department of Agriculture (DA) Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST) Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Indonesia Indonesian Research Institute for Animal Production (IRIAP) Vietnam Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) Southern Horticulture Research Institute (SHRI) Cambodia Royal University of Agriculture (RUA)