THE country will be able to tap the latest technologies from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp. (Embrapa) for high-value crops, livestock, biofuels, and fisheries following an agreement forged between the Philippines and Brazil.

Embrapa and the Department of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the working visit of President Arroyo to Brazil on June 24.

In a joint statement, the DA’s Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) and the Embrapa said they have made commitments to start the cooperation with the exchange of germplasm of selected high-value crops and the transfer of technology on crop assessment and production estimate systems.

“We have agreed to cooperate in the field of science and technology toward our common goal of promoting sustainable agricultural development and institutional strengthening in our respective countries,” the joint statement read.

Besides the MOU, an association of Brazilian cattle breeders also committed to donate 2,000 doses of Girolando semen—a breed of dairy cattle—to help the Philippines develop and grow its fledgling dairy industry.

In a joint statement, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and the Brazilian Association of Girolando Breeders led by Jose Donato Dias Filho expressed their intention to cooperate with each other “in the interest of livestock development.”

Yap said the DA recognizes Brazil’s leading role as one of the world’s a major  producer of cattle and other livestock.

He noted that Brazil’s Girolando breed provides an opportunity for the improvement of the Philippine’s dairy cattle industry.

The Philippines largely sources its dairy cattle through importations of a crossbreed of the Indian Sahiwal and the New Zealand Holstein—an expensive and unsustainable practice.

Both the DA and the Brazilian breeders have committed to facilitate the Girolando semen donation through mutual cooperation in line with both parties’ national laws and regulations concerning the exchange of genetic material.