Research and Extension at BIOTECH covers five main areas:
Biotechnology for Agriculture and Forest Program The Biotechnology for Agriculture and Forestry Program is the country's center of agribiotechnology researches on biofertilizers, microbial biodiversity for reforestation and agricultural waste treatment.
Biotechnology Program for Food, Feeds and Specialty Products BIOTECH discovers and upgrades technologies to produce high value foods, feeds, additives, specialty products, and develops efficient detection kits to ensure quality and safety. The program explores sources, properties and application of
functional foods such as nutraceuticals, probiotics from GRAS Lactic Acid Bacteria and yeast. Nutraceuticals are the functional foods such as omega-3, 6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids from structured lipids like coconut and local seed oil. The institute also intensifies improvement, application and commercialization of existing
DNA-based detection kits and industrial
enzymes.
Natural Products Biotechnology for Natural Products Program applies modern and conventional scientific techniques to discover pharmaceutically-important compounds produced from local isolates and to develop plant cell culture systems as a source of high-value secondary metabolites (drugs). The program uses bioinformatics, computational software, and tissue culture technology for the identification and mass production of identified novel compounds. Continuing efforts are exerted to promote and commercialize BioVac-HS and BioVac-FC, the vaccines against Pasteurella multocida which causes fatal hemorrhagic septicemia and fowl cholera, respectively.
Biotechnology for Industrial and Environmental and Energy Program Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology searches for cost-effective and renewable fuel sources to help lessen the impact of
oil price increases. The program focuses on the discovery and development of robust microorganisms to improve biofuel production. It also develops biological binders or biosurfactant, biopolymers, and heat-resistant enzymes, for wastes degradation and bioremediation.
Technology Transfer/Training and Business Development Technology Transfer/Training and Business Development Program packages BIOTECH information and facilitates its proactive exchange among the scientists-researchers and Institute clients. The program also embarks on various technology transfer and commercialization approaches. Among its services include biotechnology promotion, training and internship, product and technology marketing, database management and communication support services. ==Facilities and Services==