PCC taps TAP for technology commercialization

The Philippine Carabao Center’s Technology Board summoned the urgency for the application of Technology Assessment Protocol (TAP) toward further technology promotion and commercialization.

As a concrete step for its realization, the board headed by Dr. Eric P. Palacpac, along with selected staff members of PCC, participated in a four-day training on the use of TAP in evaluating different technologies implemented and promoted by the agency.

The selected staff included technology promotion specialists, economists, sociologists, technically competent experts, and communication experts. These were selected based on PCARRD-Technology Outreach and Promotion Division’s (PCARRD-TOPD) requirements.

The TAP training course, developed by (PCARRD-TOPD), embodies the most recent innovations in technology assessment procedures and processes utilizing the STEEP criteria such as social acceptability, technical feasibility, financial / economic viability, environmental soundness, and political acceptability. It is focused on techniques to determine the necessary and timely interventions for packaging existing technologies to potentially commerciable products/services.

The protocol was also designed to zero in on the reasons why farmers or intended clienteles do not use particular matured technologies to improve carabao and cattle production such as Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block (UMMB) and milk replacer, understand the status of the technologies generated, and identify the necessary actions and interventions for technology packaging, promotion and commercialization.

“We should establish confidence on particular technologies such as artificial insemination so that this kind of matured technology will be reached and understood by its intended clienteles,” said Dr. Liza G. Battad, Planning and Special Projects Division Chief of PCC.

She added, “We should also have quantitative indicators for R&D efforts or how it has been implemented at least at the farmers’ level.”

The four-day training enabled the participants to assess indigenous and new technologies for promotion and commercialization. Principles, concepts and tools of technology assessment protocol, and guides on the formation of a cohesive core team that will conduct technology assessment using the tools of TAP were discussed during the training.

Technologies or innovations using TAP have been categorized into product, process, service and information.

Included in the list of the technologies developed and improved by PCC are Artificial Insemination, Estrus Synchronization, Day Zero Calf Weaning with Milk Replacer, Legume-Grass Pasture for Grazing, UMMB, Urea Treatment of Rice Straw with Molasses, Silage Making, Flushing, Fattening of Water Buffalo for Good Quality Meat, Animal Record-Keeping, Portable Milking Machine and Communal Freezer, Ricotta Cheese, Direct Acidification Method for Mozzarella Cheese, Simplified Production of Yogurt, Probiotic White Cheese, Lacto Juice, and Pastillas de Leche.

Flushing and AI were the technologies assessed during the training.

Dr. Arturo Argañosa, chief of PCARRD-TOPD, headed the team of the facilitators which included Ms. Lucy Lastimosa, Diana Rose Cabello (PCARRD-TOPD) and Mr. Eduedo Magboo (formerly of PCARRD-Livestock Research Division).

With the help of TAP, the technology board is optimistic that the technologies will gain further acceptance among its clienteles.

The training on TAP was held at the PCC National Headquarters Office from February 28-March 3, 2011.