MANILA, Philippines — The Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) has proposed the establishment of a P29-million microbiology and pesticide laboratory to ensure the safety of highland vegetables.
BAPTC chief operating officer Violeta Salda forwarded the proposal to the Department of Agriculture.
The proposed project includes the establishment of infrastructure, purchase of laboratory equipment as well as its operation expenses.
Salda said the laboratory establishment aims to protect human health and the environment by identifying safe, quality, and healthy agricultural food products and by fostering-reduced-pesticide use.
It will also conduct a microbial analysis of all fresh crops to assure the highest possible food quality and safety standards.
Further, it will cater to microbiology analysis services for food-borne pathogen detection and pesticide residue lab for pesticide residue evaluation and profiling.
Data from BAPTC showed that 30 percent of all the highland vegetables in the Cordillera region is being traded at the BAPTC.
Metro Manila, for one, sources large volumes of vegetables at the BAPTC.