The Agricultural Engineering Division (BPI-AED) emerged as the top awardee at the 2026 National Research and Development Review (NRDR) after securing both the Best Research Paper and Best Scientific Poster awards during the three-day event held from August 25 to 27 at The Aurora Subic Hotel in Olongapo City, Zambales.

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The awards recognized the research team behind “Modification and Performance Evaluation of BPI Rice Hull Carbonizer.” The study was authored by Samuel R. Pasa, Gilda Yolanda G. Rodavia, Melvin L. Vista, Jona Vioren M. Ramos, and James Inaki A. Castillo, under the leadership of their Chief, Elaiza S. Dotimas.

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For the Best Research Paper category, BPI-AED took first place, followed by BPI Los Baños NCRDPSC in second place for “SAFE: S&T Interventions to Improve Quick Response to Calamities and Natural Disasters in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Region,” and BPI Guimaras NCRDPSC in third place for “Evaluation of Fruit Quality of Carabao Mango Harvested at Different Stages of Maturity.”

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In the Best Scientific Poster category, BPI-AED also secured first place for its rice hull carbonizer study. BPI Davao NCRDPSC placed second with “Evaluation and Utilization of Selected Agricultural Wastes as Bulletin Board,” while BPI Baguio NCRDPSC ranked third with “Evaluation of Different Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Varieties and Nutrient Solutions Under Indoor Cultivation System.”

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The researchers presented the following studies:

“Fruit Fly Population and Other Insect Pests of Mango: Their Fluctuations and Monitoring in the Island of Guimaras” – BPI Guimaras NCRDPSC

“Mango Rehabilitation Program: Field Evaluation of Selected Insecticides Against Kurikong Mango Cecid Fly (Procontarinia frugivora) in Selected Mango-Producing Areas of the Philippines”

“Management of Mycogone perniciosa Causing Wet Bubble Disease of White Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) Using Botanical Extracts” – BPI Baguio NCRDPSC

“Development of Innovation System for Climate-Smart Pest Management in Rice: Optimization, Field Validation, and Farmer Evaluation of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) for Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) Management” – Crop Pest Management Division

“Red-Colored Mango Varieties: Its Potential for Organic Mango Production” – BPI Guimaras NCRDPSC

“Evaluation and Utilization of Selected Agricultural Wastes as Bulletin Board” – BPI Davao NCRDPSC

“Performance and Biological Efficiency Evaluation of a Developed Indoor Cultivation System for Banana-Straw Mushroom (Volvariella volvacea)”

“Evaluation of Different Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Varieties and Nutrient Solutions Under Indoor Cultivation System” – BPI Baguio NCRDPSC

“Development of Pilot Villages Through the Establishment of Protective Cultivation and Postharvest Management of Vegetables in the Philippines” – BPI Los Baños NCRDPSC

“Bolstering Communities Through Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Indigenous Vegetables, Underutilized Crops, and Minor Legumes” – BPI La Granja NCRDPSC

“Evaluation of Fruit Quality of Carabao Mango Harvested at Different Stages of Maturity” – BPI Guimaras NCRDPSC

“Growth and Yield Performance of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Varieties at Different Planting Months from 2023–2025 in Baguio City” – BPI Baguio NCRDPSC

“Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for Field Legumes” – BPI La Granja NCRDPSC

“Off-Season Screening of Bush Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties for Seed Production in Baguio City” – BPI Baguio NCRDPSC

“SAFE: S&T Interventions to Improve Quick Response to Calamities and Natural Disasters in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Region” – BPI Los Baños NCRDPSC

“Modification and Performance Evaluation of BPI Rice Hull Carbonizer” – Agricultural Engineering Division

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The recognition of BPI-AED and other BPI research teams highlights the Bureau’s continuing efforts to strengthen agricultural research and develop innovations that can contribute to a more productive and sustainable plant industry. BPI will continue to support research that turns knowledge into practical solutions for Philippine agriculture and the farmers it serves.