Presentation of turnover certificate between NU-UPLB officials (Photo by KCB Tenorio)

The Institute of Animal Science (IAS), headed by Director Rommel C. Sulabo, led the ceremonial turnover of the Climate Chamber Facility for Animal Science Research from the Nagoya University Graduate School for Bioagricultural Sciences (NU-GSBS) last 14 June at the Animal Science Complex, UPLB.

BP Integrated Technologies Inc. handed the certificate of turnover to Dr. Sotaro Chiba, Associate Professor at NU-GSBS, who then presented the same certificate to UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.

“I hope this is not just one, if not the major support, that Nagoya University will be extending to the [UPLB],” said Chancellor Camacho. He also remained hopeful that the NU-UPLB partnership grows in the years to come.

The facility will be able to control ambient temperature from 5 to 50°C and is expected to increase climate resiliency of animal production especially in tropical regions like the Philippines. The PhP 10M project was proposed under the general umbrella of NU’s International Station for Tropical Agriculture Sciences (ISTAS) Project of which UPLB was designated as the central station.

According to Dr. Sulabo, lead proponent of the project, the animal chamber will make climate-related researches in livestock and poultry possible for NU transnational doctoral students who are the main priority users of this facility. NU-UPLB faculty and other UP students are also listed as target users.

The 40-feet chamber can measure the temperature and relative humidity of the enclosed space, simulate environmental conditions, and provide real-time gas monitoring and analysis, among its many functions.

The project followed a three-phase installation from civil works container preparation; installation of controller and refrigeration system; and installation of continuous gas analyzer.

“IAS-UPLB is fortunate to be the first educational institution in the Philippines and probably in the ASEAN region to house a climate research facility dedicated for animal research,” said Dr. Sulabo.

Also present were Dr. Editha C. Cedicol, Director of the NU-Asian Satellite Campus Institute Philippines; and Misses Christine Viray and Fe dela Cruz, Project Assistants. Officials from the UPLB who witnessed this momentous event were Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Nathaniel C. Bantayan; and CAFS Dean Elpidio M. Agbisit, Jr.