THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Los Baños campus turned over at least 20,000 edible landscaping starter kits to the Department of Agriculture to help the agency’s bid to promote food security amid the pandemic.

The DA tapped the university to pursue two new projects under its “Plant, Plant, Plant” program that aims to increase food production especially now when the country is facing adverse difficulties caused by the Covid19 pandemic.

To help families create their edible gardens at home, the starter kits contain packets of assorted vegetable seeds, a brochure that serves as a guide on how to plant them, and sample designs for pocket garden, container garden and community garden fit for urban communities.

UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr., who has been leading the university’s edible landscaping projects, emphasized that the long-time goal is that “no Filipino should be hungry.”

“We have been advocating this innovative technology for so many years already. But I think it is now that we have reached a peak because of the overwhelming requests that we received during this pandemic,” Sanchez said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar tagged UPLB’s edible landscaping project as a “food security arsenal” that helps ensure that every Filipino family has enough food.

“As the country transitions into the new normal, it is important that we continue our joint efforts to ensure an adequate supply of affordable and nutritious food, and improve our food logistics and transportation systems,” Dar said in a statement.

Edible landscaping is a farming approach where applied artistry and basic landscaping principles are aesthetically combined with crop production. It also aims to provide households their supply of vegetables.