SEARCA eyes agri-tech tie-up

Listed firm D&L Industries and its foundation have sought a possible project collaboration with the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) for future agricultural project undertakings.

SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said SEARCA's possible collaborations with D&L Industries and Lao Foundation Inc. (LFI) include undertakings on the coconut industry project in Quezon Province; the Technology Adoption for People-centered Innovation and Livelihood Integration project in Legazpi, Albay; and short-term capacity-building offerings of the center.

D&L Industries is a Filipino company engaged in the manufacturing of customized food ingredients, specialty raw materials for plastics, and oleochemicals for personal and home care use. It has the largest market share in each of the industries it serves.

According to Gregorio, D&L Industries' goal is to work with institutional partners that can create and implement services that will empower farmers and create sustainable impact, which is consistent with SEARCA's vision of being an enabler of excellence in agriculture and rural development.

He said SEARCA's partnership with industry players and academic institutions is focused on attaining agricultural transformation and rural development.

"We appreciate the D&L Industries for its interest to partner with SEARCA in promoting agri-innovation and improving the livelihood of farming communities," Gregorio added.

Growing out of the informal outreaches of D&L Industries' companies, LFI was created to better the lives in the communities in which it operates. LFI's main programs focus on opening opportunities for those who need them most.