UPLB promotes food security through edible landscaping

By Alexandria Dennise San Juan23 September 2020 Philippines

The University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) has turned over its edible landscaping kits to the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the agency’s program to promote food security amid the pandemic.

At least 20,000 edible landscaping starter kits have been distributed by the university after it was tapped by the DA to pursue two new projects under the nationwide “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” that aims to increase food production.

The starter kit contains a packet of assorted vegetable seeds, a “how to plant” brochure, and sample designs for a pocket garden, container garden, and community garden fit for urban communities that will help families create their edible gardens at home.

foodscaping landscapes

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

UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez, Jr., who has been leading the university’s edible landscaping projects, emphasized its long-time goal 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.

For his part, Agriculture Secretary William Dar tagged UPLB’s edible landscaping project as a “food security arsenal” to help ensure that every Filipino family has enough food on its table.

“As the country transitions onto 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.

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