Philippine Officials Visit IRTA Fruitcentre in Spain to Explore Partnerships in Fruit Crop Development

Usec. Natividad-Caballero gets a firsthand look at the packaging process at the Fruitcentre.

BARCELONA 14 May 2024 – A high-level delegation from the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), led by Undersecretary for High-Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero visited the IRTA Fruitcentre in Lleida, Spain on 02 May 2024. The  visit was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona and represented in the meeting by its Consul and Economic Officer Raisa Mabayo. During their visit, the delegation met with IRTA CEO Dr. Josep Usall and Institutional Delegate Dr. Joan Girona to explore innovative agricultural practices and technologies being developed at the Fruitcentre. The discussions centered on enhancing the quality, yield, diversification, and marketability of Philippine fruit crops both domestically and internationally.

IRTA Fruitcentre, known for its pioneering work in climate resilience, food safety, biodiversity preservation, and efficient resource utilization, shared insights into their strategic plan for 2024-2027, which includes extensive research into sustainable production and transformative digital technologies.

A significant highlight from the visit was the introduction to new heat-tolerant fruit varieties developed by IRTA, which can thrive in warmer climates like those in the Philippines. This development aligns with the DA's strategic goals to diversify and expand commercially viable high-value fruit crops.

Reflecting a commitment to enhancing local agricultural practices through international collaboration, Undersecretary Natividad-Caballero shared plans to further explore IRTA’s operational models and discuss potential collaborations with the institute.

This initiative underscores the Philippine government's dedication to strengthening the agricultural sector through global partnerships and innovative research, potentially leading to the establishment of a fruit research center in the Philippines modeled after IRTA’s successful approach.END

PH and IRTA officials pose in front of the Fruitcentre building.

For more information,visit https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/.