The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) approved the grant of financial assistance to two research projects of the University during its Directors’ Council meeting held on September 19, 2017 at Los Banos, Laguna.
The project titled “Design and Development of a Programmable Dehydrator Machine for Herbal Tea Materials” of Dr. Renerio S. Mucas has a total grant of Php 4, 983, 905.00. The project aims to develop a dehydrator that is solar powered with electric power back-up. It will also determine the effect of the drying method presently used by local tea producers on the chemical markers on herbal tea products raw materials. The project will also seek to determine the organocleptic, physiocochemical and microbiological characteristics of the finished products. It has a project duration of two years from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2019.
On the other hand, the approved project of Dr. Yvette E. Gelogo, titled “ Development of Green Packaging Technology Using Eco-Friendly Materials for Rice and other Commodities” has a total budget of Php 4, 929, 172.00. The green packaging technology seeks to identify raw materials and develop a process of converting it to produce eco-friendly “green” packaging of specialty rice and other food commodities. It is also expected that the project would result to a longer preservation of rice products, reduce health hazard chemicals to prevent food contamination, cost effective and reduce carbon footprints. The project duration is two years, from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2019.
