LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA (19–20 February 2024) — To advance food and nutrition security and promote agrobiodiversity in schools, educators across CALABARZON were trained on indigenous vegetable conservation during a two-day workshop co-organized by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and the Institute of Plant Breeding – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB).
The activity aimed to improve access to climate-resilient and nutritionally valuable indigenous vegetable germplasm by building the capacity of teachers in seed conservation and strengthening their linkages with the National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory (NPGRL).
A total of 38 participants (16 male, 22 female) engaged in technical presentations and hands-on sessions on seed production and saving. The workshop included interactive components such as a gallery walk on indigenous vegetables and fruits, a tour of the NPGRL, and a seed exchange activity.
Participants evaluated school-grown indigenous crops based on adaptability, palatability, maintenance, and cooking methods. In addition, they worked in groups to identify key threats to seed conservation efforts—such as climate variability, loss of traditional knowledge, and limited planting material—and outlined drivers that could support long-term success, including policy support, community engagement, and multi-sectoral collaboration.
The workshop concluded with stakeholder mapping and planning sessions on how schools can serve as active conservation sites for indigenous vegetables, contributing to improved nutrition, food literacy, and environmental stewardship among learners.
This initiative forms part of IIRR and IPB-UPLB’s broader commitment to mainstreaming underutilized vegetables in school gardens and ensuring their availability for future generations.
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