The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), through the National Seed Industry Council–Plant Variety Protection Office (NSIC-PVPO), convened a Coordination Meeting on Matters Relating to Ube (Dioscorea alata) Varieties on July 10, 2026, to bring together government agencies, academic institutions, breeding institutions, and technical experts in addressing key issues affecting the country’s ube industry.

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The meeting served as a venue for stakeholders to exchange technical, legal, and policy perspectives on the protection, conservation, utilization, and development of Philippine ube varieties amid the growing global demand for the crop. Discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration among institutions involved in breeding, production, and conservation of ube genetic resources.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture Intellectual Property Management Office (DA IPMO), the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center, Bohol Island State University, Benguet State University, the NSIC Root Crops Technical Working Group, and BPI Divisions and Centers

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During the discussions, participants identified five key priority concerns requiring coordinated action: the protection of ube varieties, conservation and management of ube genetic resources, access, utilization, and benefit-sharing considerations, the availability of quality planting materials, and production capacity and market supply.

The meeting also highlighted the need to increase investments in ube research and development. Participants noted the limited funding currently available for the sector, while emphasizing the importance of expanding support for production and research initiatives to sustain the industry’s growth.

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Experts likewise underscored the value of tissue culture propagation in producing high-quality, disease-free planting materials, recognizing the technology as an effective approach to support the wider distribution of improved ube planting stocks.

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As part of the meeting, the NSIC-PVPO presented its existing and proposed initiatives on crop variety registration, plant variety protection, and variety listing to encourage the development and protection of improved ube varieties. Participants were informed that there are currently 8 registered ube varieties in the country, with more promising varieties expected to undergo registration as breeding programs continue to advance. Experts further emphasized that breeding efforts should remain responsive to consumer preferences and market demand to enhance the competitiveness of the Philippine ube industry.

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Looking ahead, the DA-IPMO, as part of its commitment to protect the interests of the Philippines in relation to the use of Philippine branding and common names such as “ube”, intends to apply for Certification Marks under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

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The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, academe, and breeding institutions in advancing the registration, protection, conservation, and sustainable development of Philippine ube varieties. Participants also discussed facilitating the registration and protection of varieties developed by breeding institutions to further support innovation.

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As global demand for ube continues to rise, the DA, through the BPI and the NSIC-PVPO, remains committed to promoting science-based policies, strengthening varietal registration and protection mechanisms, and fostering partnerships that will contribute to a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable Philippine ube industry.