Seed Science and Technology Division
Department of Agronomy
UPLB, College
Laguna
Philippines

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Description of the Seed Division's activities and resources

I. Description of The Seed Science and Technology Division

Objectives

• General: help promote and develop the local seed industry using the sustainable agriculture framework through seed education, research and extension
• Specific 1: make the general public, seed producers, farmers, institutions and organizations (both formal and informal) aware of the value of use of quality and appropriate seed, locally developed (indigenous) seed practices and farming systems
• Specific 2: provide a venue for dissemination and exchange of information on seed sources, availability, technology and related matters among practitioners, development workers, Gos, NGOs and People's Organizations (POs)
• Specific 3: encourage farmer-based or community-based seed production and genetic conservation endeavors
• Specific 4: generate data and produce information/learning materials to answer seed-related information gaps through primary and secondary research

Activities

• Collect, disseminate and exchange information related to seed, genetic resources and biodiversity, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture (through correspondence, visits, seminars, etc.);
• Maintain relevant databases on 1) seed sources and availability, 2) seed production/handling technologies, 3) seed/plant characteristics 4) other seed-related information develop databases and produce extension materials/publications on seeds and related issues;
• Conduct practical and basic research on seed production/technology and genetic conservations conduct training at the university and on-site for farmers, GOs, NGOs and Pos; also offer a yearly short course (summer) on seed production, handling and genetic conservation using sustainable agriculture as framework;
• Maintain a learning resource facility (which contains references, videos, posters, slides, etc.);
• Network with different sectors involved in seed matters.

Extension materials/publications

1. Agroforestry Seeds. Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter vol.2 no.3 (1990); Supplement on Agroforestry Seed Sources; Index on Agroforestry Species.
2. Agroforestry Seeds Circular no.1 (1991), no.2 (1992) and no.3 (1993).
3. Supplement to Agroforestry Seeds Circular no.1. Philippine agroforestry species scientific name, official, common and local names, uses, sources/location; Index of Agroforestry Seeds Sources (Philippines).
4. Supplement to Agroforestry Seeds Circular no. 2. Philippine agroforestry species scientific name, official, common and local names, uses, sources/location and uses; Index of Agroforestry Seeds Sources (Phil.).
5. Supplement to Agroforestry Seeds Circular no.3. (Agroforestry Species in the Philippines: Common Names, Scientific Name and Growth Requirement; Index of Agroforestry Seeds Sources (Philippines).
6. Some chapters in the Resource Book on Sustainable Agriculture in the Uplands. 1990. IIRR, MBRLC and Mag-uugmad Foundation, Inc. Philippines.
7. Some chapters in the Low-external Input Rice Production Kit, 1990. IIRR, Philippines.
8. Manwal sa Pagpaparami at Pangangalaga ng Binhi (Manual on Seed Production and Handling). 1992. Joint publication of the Department of Agronomy, UP Los Baos and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Silang, Cavite, Philippines.
9. Seeds and Plant Propagation. 1992. Agroforestry Technology Information Kit No. 5. IIRR, Silang, Cavite, Philippines.
10. Discussion/conference papers on seeds and sustainable agriculture.
11. Training Aid/Manual on Sustainable Seed Production/Technology . 1994.
12. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Sourcebook Philippines With Emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and Food. UPLB and MODE, Philippines. 1994.
13. Soundslide on "sustainable" seed production, technology and genetic conservation (in Filipino)

Databases

14. The "Dirty Dozen" Pesticides.
15. Storage and Longevity of Recalcitrant Seeds.
16. Asexual Propagation Techniques.
17. Agricultural Crop Seed Production Data.
18. Natural Crop and Seed Protection Substances, Techniques/Practices.
19. Agroforestry Pests and Diseases in the Philippines.
20. Glossary of Terms Related to Agroforestry, Development, Genetic Conservation, Indigenous Knowledge System, Seed Production Handling Technology, Sustainable Agriculture & related fields/issues.
21. Indigenous Seed Practices.
22. Agencies/organizations/individuals doing seed-related work (seed education extension, research, production, conservation/seed banking, exchange, trading, etc.).
23. Pregermination Treatments of Selected Agroforestry Species.
24. Rapid Viability Testing Using Tetrazolium for Some Agroforestry Species.
25. Abstract/Bibliography of seed technology research in the Philippines.

II. Seed Information and Learning Resources and Services

Resources:

1. Seed production and handling manual (Pagpaparami at Pangangalaga ng Binhi). 1992. A collaborative effort between the Department of Agronomy, University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). 34 pp. (available only in Tagalog; richly illustrated; based on sustainable agriculture framework; translation to appropriate languages, especially by NGOs or POs, is welcome).
2. "Agroforestry Seeds" issue, Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter 2(3), 1990. A collaborative effort of CUSO, IDRC, IIRR, SIBAT, UPLB through AFSICH and CADI. 36 pp. Includes topics on farm level technologies on various aspects of seed production and handling; a list of resource persons in sustainable agriculture, as well as agencies/organizations, projects doing agrofores-try seed-related activities; includes a supplement on local and international agroforestry seed sources.
3. Agroforestry Seeds Circular and Supplement. (AFSICH, Department of Agronomy, UPLB).
• Issue 1, 1991 (10 pp.). Includes seed research results; training notes; reader feedback; references and a calendar of activities on seeds, agroforestry and sustainable agriculture. The supplement (26 pp.) lists scientific name, common names and seed sources of 276 Philippine agroforestry species; also contains an index of Philippine agroforestry seed sources.
• Issue 2, 1992 (24 pp.). Features an NGO-farmer based seed collection and reforestation using indigenous species in Mindanao, Philippines; includes topics or short articles on quality of seeds from various sources; upgrading seed quali-ty through invigoration; pests and diseases in agroforestry; seed-related matters in multipurpose cover crops and green manure species; training notes; tips on handling seeds for transport; also includes reader feedback, useful references and calendar of activities on seeds, agroforestry and sustainable agriculture. The supplement (43 pp.) lists 385 agroforestry species in the Philippines with their official name, common names, seed sources and uses; also includes index of agroforestry seed sources (Philippines).
• Issue 3, 1993 (60 pp.). Features an article on entrusting seed production to farmers; also in-cludes topics or articles on seed germination of indigenous Philippine trees; seeds and fruit as medicine; recalcitrant seeds and intermediates; training and network notes; agroforestry seed procurement tips; endangered Philippine forestry and agroforestry species; species identification; and reader feedback of previous issues; also includes useful references and a calendar of activities on seeds, agroforestry and sustainable agriculture. The supplement (24 pp.) lists agroforestry species in the Philippines classified according to family and provided with common names, scientific name and growth requirements; also includes index of agroforestry seed sources (Philippines).
4. "Seeds and Plant Propagation", 106 pp. Booklet No. 5 of the Agroforestry Technology Information Kit (ATIK) 1992. This is a revision of a portion of the ATIK (published in 1989 by IIRR, Ford Foundation, and DENR in cooperation with UPLB) and of the Agroforestry Seeds Handling, 1990 (AFSICH, Department of Agronomy, UPLB).
5. Sound-slides on "sustainable seed production and handling" (in Tagalog/ Filipino; comes with a photo-text guide booklet which may be obtained separately). 1992.
6. IPR Sourcebook Philippines With Emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and Food. 1994. UPLB and MODE. College, Laguna, Philippines. 173 pp. This is a compilation of materials that were presented during a conference on IPR issues in GATT, held last August at the Agricultural College of the University of the Philippines, Los Baos, (UPLB). Scientists, farmers, NGOs and government came together during the conference to exchange views on how IPRs on life will affect Philippine society. The papers included discussions on problems created by the current push to patent life from all sorts of angles: legislative, transnational corporations and trade, research, seed conservation, ethics, and international perspectives. It illustrates the hot debate going on in the Philippines.
7. Training aid/manual on sustainable seed production/technology (in Tagalog/ Filipino). 1994. Presents seed production and sustainable agriculture principles through questions which are based mostly on illustrations. Also included are an answer guide and instructions for the preparation of various set ups for demonstration and practical exercises. Active discussion and sharing are encouraged through group work.
8. Glossary of terms related to agroforestry, seeds, sustainable agriculture, genetic resources, etc.
9. Books, articles, theses, magazines, video tapes. Topics include seed biology, seed production technology, quality testing, nursery management, alternative crop production and protection systems (including indigenous systems), agroforestry, genetic conservation, sustainable agriculture, current issues, etc.
10. Posters on seeds, genetic diversity, and environmental issues (obtained from various sources; useful for training and formal instruction).
11. Documentation of training/short courses on seed technology/seed production, nursery management and sustainable agriculture conducted by the staff.
12. Database/listing on:
• Agroforestry seed sources, local and some international traders or organizations (species, prices and volume available are not necessarily updated and may be provided only under certain situations)
• Agencies, organizations, individuals doing seed-related work (seed education, extension, research, production, conservation/seedbanking, exchange, trading, etc.)
• Agroforestry pests and diseases in the Philippines
• Botanical pesticides and other natural means of crop/seed protection and pest management
• Indigenous seed/crop production and protection practices
• Seed storability of agroforestry, recalcitrant and agricultural crops species
• Multiplication/production techniques of asexually propagated crops
• Agronomic data for seed production of agricultural crops, including a number of indigenous vegetables
• Pregermination treatments of selected agro-forestry species
• Rapid viability testing using tetrazolium for some agroforestry species
• Recalcitrant seed storage techniques
13. Compendium of dangerous or banned pesticides and their ill effects
14. Seed herbarium of some indigenous agroforestry, forestry and agricultural species including a number of indigenous rice seeds.

Services:

1. Conduct a training on seed production handling-technology, nursery management, genetic conservation, sustainable agriculture and community seed-banking upon request.
2. Conduct a regular two-week short course on "Seed Production, Handling and Genetic Conservation for Sustainable Agriculture"
3. Provide information/sourcing on seed availability, seed technology, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture and other related topics.
4. Provide assistance to farmers, POs and NGOs in setting-up seed production or seed banking programs.
5. Conduct (to a limited extent) seed quality tests for the net-work.
6. Conduct practical research on some seed aspect as identified by farmers/practitioners or rural development workers.