RESEARCHERS of the Visayas State University swept the awards during the 32nd Regional Research, Development, and Extension Symposium organized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development and Department of Agriculture.

University President Edgardo Tulin and his team clinched the Outstanding RDE Paper in the Research Project category for their paper on “Biochemical Characterization and Phytochemical Profiling of Underutilized Root and Tuber Crops for Increased Utilization and Product Development Option.”

Former VSU president Jose Bacusmo and his team, on the other hand, won the Outstanding RDE Paper in the Development Project Category for their paper on “Strengthening Linkages Among Farmers, Government, and Industry Sectors for Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development in Inopacan, Leyte.”

Meanwhile, VSU Graduate School Dean Anabella Tulin and her team bagged the Best RDE Poster. There were 36 scientific posters presented in the regional research conference.

Their winning study was entitled “Effects of Zn, Fe, Cu, and B Biofortification on the Yield, Crop Quality, and Anthocyanin Contents of Purple Sweet Potato.”

“Rounding up the winners for the scientific poster competition were the entries of President Tulin’s team who took home both second and third places, then another poster from Dean Tulin’s team landed 4th place, and completing the awardees was the poster of Dr. Julie D. Tan and her team in 5th place,” VSU said.

“Coincidentally, all the winning research papers and the scientific posters were entries coming from the Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center here in VSU,” it added.

The annual research competition was jointly presented by the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Program and the Regional Research, Development, and Extension Network.