UPLB - Research Centers

Research Centers

Attesting to UPLB’s excellence in research are the centers of excellence in research as proclaimed by Presidential Decrees:

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH)

Implements R&D for basic and applied researches on molecular biology and biotechnology addressing needs related to agriculture, forestry, environment, energy, and industry. BIOTECH is certified for quality management under ISO 9001:2015 while its Central Analytical Services Laboratory and Philippine National Collection of Microorganisms earned the ISO 17025:2005 certificates in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB)

The country’s crop biotechnology research and breeding for all improved crops, except rice, is carried out here. It also hosts the National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory or the Philippines’ germplasm bank of economically important plants in Asia and in Southeast Asia.

National Crop Protection Center (NCPC)

A center of excellence in instruction, research, and extension in entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and pest management. It develops environmentally sound, sustainable, and cost-effective pest management programs and technologies to address the crop protection concerns of the national research agenda and of small farm holders.

Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute

Pursues R&D strategies to improve individual and community-based systems in various agro-ecosystems. It offers technical assistance conceptualizes and develops projects to help address distressed agricultural production systems, conducts trainings, and produces relevant information materials.

Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)

IFST implements instruction, research, and extension in food science and technology covering cost-effective utilization, processing, or conversion of raw agricultural and fishery commodities into safe, quality, and affordable food and food products.

Institute of Animal Science (IAS)

IAS was established as a part of the initial core of a nationwide effort to respond to issues of food and agriculture for the country’s short- and long-term needs through instruction, research, and extension in animal production.

Dairy Training and Research Institute

Mandated by the Philippine government to assist in the development of the local dairy industry through research, instruction and extension, DTRI conducts researches relevant to the needs of all sectors at all levels of the dairy and related industries. This includes genetics evaluation, reproductive biotechnology, forage evaluation, and milk product development.

The other research and public service centers and learning museums in the university:

Agricultural Machinery, Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC)

It conducts laboratory and field tests to verify machine specifications, performance quality of manufacturers, and the suitability of the machines to local farming conditions.

LA Granja Research and Training Station

A 288-hectare facility for crop and livestock research, training, and production programs especially for sustainable agriculture located in La Granja, La Carlota in Negros City.

Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME)

It is the first research center in the Philippines to focus on the science and importance of mountains, especially Mt. Makiling.

Training Center for Tropical Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability (TREES)

A training/extension unit that packages and implements training courses in sustainable tropical resources and ecosystems management for the Asia-Pacific region.

Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED)

ICOPED provides a strong focus on the development of cooperatives as viable economic and social business enterprises through instruction, research, extension and training, networking, and policy advocacy programs.

Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO)

TTBDO integrates programs, policies, and activities towards the protection, promotion, and successful disposition of the University’s technologies through licensing and technology business incubation to both the private and public sectors. It provides technical support for small and medium-scale enterprises in the country and the Asia-Pacific Region.

Center of Agri-fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH)

BIOMECH addresses the need for mechanization towards efficient farming and fisheries processing operations in the country. Its contributions are guided by its main goal of helping achieve food security through agriculture mechanization and green energy production.

Museum of Natural History (MNH)

MNH is a depository and collection of more than 600,000 preserved, mostly Philippine mammals, insects, plants, fungi, microbial cultures and other biota that showcase the country’s rich biodiversity. It also has an in-situ collection of around 300 plants and trees. The Museum is an important reference for science and a center for documentation, research, and information on Philippine biodiversity and its conservation.

Anatomy of Museum and Parasite Collection Center

Found at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the museum exhibits terrestrial and aquatic animals at various stages of development, while the parasite collection houses parasites from domesticated and wild animals.

Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center

The Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC) is a research and development, and extension unit of the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). It was established in 1977 through the ASEAN-Australian Economic Cooperation Program in response to the United Nations’ call to reduce postharvest food losses.