Azolla Program: reviving its commitment to research and development in UPLB [University of the Philippines Los Baños]

The commitment to research, development and innovation on the study of Azolla and its nutritional and economic values is now being revitailized through the Azolla Program of the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, a take-off from the past, long-term program of the 1980's. Its germplasm collection from the International Rice Research Institute, the world's largest collection of its kind, was transferred to UPLB and presently housed in PhilRice Los Baños branch, becoming an intergral component of an R and D [Research and Development] Program with studies such as In vitro Propagation and Conservation of Different Azolla Species; Morphological and Molecular Characterization; Utilization of Azolla as Potting Mix and Fertilizer; Optimization in Pond Culture; and Developing Small and Commercial Models of Azolla-based Systems, Promotion and Income Generation Projects. The prgram's banner title of '4 F + P', aims to intervene on its strengthened comeback not only on Azolla research as fertilizer (1F) and livestock feed (2F), taking note of its invasive ability, but looking on its benefits from a different perspective such as alternative protein (25% -30% content) and nutrient source for human consumption (food, 3F), as fuel (4F), and as material for Phytoremediation (P), leading to its conservation, utilization and availability for instruction, research and socio-economic projects in the future by value-chain development and product value-adding. A pteridophyte and regarded as 'super plant', with the capacity to double in size and number over a period under optimum conditions, Azolla grows in bodies of water in almost all known environments, having a symbiotic relationship with the nitrogen-fixing, blue-green alga Anabaena azollae. In ancient times, it has contributed to the reduction by about half the then prevailing high CO2 levels estimated at 1500-1600 ppm in earth's atmospheric composition.