Minutes of
FNCA 2013 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project

Opening Session
Dr. Alumanda M. Dela Rosa, Director of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Director of National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), delivered remarks respectively and expressed warm welcome to all participants. In addition, Ms. Moe Aoki, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) and Dr. Sueo Machi, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, gave speeches and thanked to PNRI and UPLB for their hospitality and great effort to this workshop. Then Ms. Julieta A. Anarna, Project Leader (PL) of the Philippines and Ms. Phua Choo Kwai Hoe, Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia), were selected as rapporteurs of this workshop.
As a keynote speech, Dr. Machi gave a presentation for overview and progress of FNCA activities in 2012-2013. He reviewed 10 FNCA projects and plan for 2013. Then Prof. Tadashi Yokoyama, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), PL of Japan, presented summary of activity on FNCA Biofertilizer Project and major issue of this workshop.

Open Seminar on Nuclear Technologies and Biofertilizer for Improvement of Productivity in Sustainable Agriculture
The open seminar was held on the first day of the workshop with ca. 80 participants from research institute and university in the Philippines, including FNCA Biofertilizer Project members.
Ms. Glenda B. Obra, Head of the PNRI Agricultural Research Section, PNRI introduced the improvement of agriculture by nuclear technology in the Philippines. Dr. Machi presented the nuclear echnology for promotion of sustainable agriculture in the world. Dr. Marilyn B. Brown, Leader of Agriculture and Forestry Program, BIOTECH, reported application of research and development of biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture in the Philippines.
Then Dr. Nelly S. Aggangan, BIOTECH introduced the effect of mycorrhizal biofertilizer of MykovamTM to restore growth and yield of banana cvs Lakatan and Cavendish in Fusarium wilt infected areas in Mindanao. Ms. Helen Grace S. Centeno, Associate Scientist, IRRI reported rice production under the climate change to secure the food on the table. Dr. Shotaro Ando, Project Leader of JIRCAS presentd agricultural practices for environmental conservation in islands. Ms. Kwai Hoe Phua Choo, Malaysian Nuclear Agency reported success story of radiation technology for biofertilizer production and application in Malaysia

Session 1 Country Report
Seven countries reported research summaries for 2013 respectively. The summaries of reports are attached as Annex 3.

Session 2 Extension of Radiation Sterilization for Commercial Biofertilizer Production
Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines had success story in using gamma sterilization carriers for commercialization. Gamma irradiation for carrier sterilization in commercial scale had been used by Philippines at doses of 20 kGy, Thailand at 25 kGy and Malaysia at 25 - 50 kGy. Project Leaders make a link with biofertilizer producer to explain advantages of irradiated carrier and contact with national nuclear center and/or facilities. The biofertilizer inoculant made of the irradiated carrier should be tested by the biofertilizer producer for demonstrating better QA/QC and long shelf life. Demonstration application to the end-user is also needed. China has available radiation facilities in CNNC and private companies, so Project Leader should try to contact and find interest of biofertilizer producers in using radiation. In Thailand, technology transfer to producer is in progress. Radiation services are available in private companies for commercial application. Vietnam has available radiation service in VAEI in Ho Chi Minh and private company. For the Philippines, it is recommended to construct a new radiation facility for agricultural use including biofertilizers.

Session 3 Development of Multifunctional Biofertilizer and Strategy for Extension to Farmers
Every member countries worked on multi-functional biofertilizer, by using single strain that had multifunction, or multi-strain inoculants that had different function. The irradiation technology was used in research process to find the good strain which had high temperature tolerance. The merit of multifunction was clearly presented by member countries. For the plan in JFY2014, all members will continue to search the production technology, merit of multifunctional biofertilizer in pot and field experiment and its benefit.

Session 4 Evaluation of Experiment for Synergistic Effect of Biofertilizer and Irradiated Oligochitosan, Plant Growth Promoter, in 2013 and Future Prospects
We have several positive synergy effects between biofertilizer and irradiated oligochitosan in this year. In case of Vietnam, application of a P-solubilizing Bacillus biofertilizer with 300 ppm of oligochitosan treated with soil and leaves clearly inhibited the bacterial wilt of tomato caused by R. solanacerum. In case of Mongolia, application of a multi-strain biofertilizer containing Azospirillum, Azotobacter and Azoarcus with 100 ppm of oligochitosan applied to leaves at every 2 weeks did not show a reduction of tomato yield under a Fusarium contaminated soil. And in Malaysia, application of 40 ppm of oligochitosan at 1week before application of a multi-strain biofertilizer containing Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. significantly increased rice yield under a pot experiments. All country members agreed with further test to confirm synergistic effect of biofertilizer and irradiated oligochitosan. And, all country members recommend to common protocol should be set for testing synergetic effect between biofertilizer and oligochitosan for disease control. Experiment II. Study on plant pathogen suppression for experiment of synergy effect between biofertilizer and irradiated oligochitosan was summarized on Annex 4.

Session 5 Development of FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Quality Assurance and Control
Draft of "FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Vol.1 Quantification of Beneficial Microbes in Biofertilizer for Quality Assurance and Control" was proposed and way to finalize the revision was discussed and agreed in members. Chapter 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9 will be modified by experts from the Philippines, Thailand, Thailand, Vietnam, and China, respectively. This volume is planning to publish in this fiscal year. Contents and editorial process of Vol. 2 were also discussed and title is agreed to be "FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Vol. 2 Production of Biofertilizer Carrier Using Radiation Technology". Draft of Vol. 2 will be prepared by expert from Malaysia.

Session 6 Project Activity Plan for 2014-2016
Future plan for each project activities was discussed and confirmed as follows;
1) Extension of Radiation Sterilization for Commercial Biofertilizer Production
1. Dr. Machi proposed to compile data of beneficial effects on irradiation carriers to keep biofertilizer organisms in comparison to autoclave carriers.
2. One possible challenge is making a paper to submit an international academic journal using data obtained from all country members.
2) Development of Multifunctional Biofertilizer and Strategy for Extension to Farmers
1. For the plan in JFY2014, all members will continue to study on combination of microbes to find multi-functional biofertilizer, to develop production technologies of each member country, and to evaluate the economic benefit of multi-functional biofertilizer for extension to farmers.
2. Mutant having the beneficial multi-function will be developed by mutation induced by irradiation.
3) Evaluation of Experiment for Synergistic Effect of Biofertilizer and Irradiated Oligochitosan
1. All country members agreed with further test to confirm synergistic effect of biofertilizer and irradiated oligochitosan. And, all country members recommend that a common protocol should be set up for testing synergetic effect between biofertilizer and oligochitosan for disease control of crops.
2. The result of these experiments will be shared with the FNCA EAA Project.
4) Development of FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Quality Assurance and Control
1. Draft of "FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Vol.1 Quantification of Beneficial Microbes in Biofertilizer for Quality Assurance and Control" will be modified by experts from China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam respectively. This volume is planning to be published by PDF on the FNCA website in this fiscal year.
2. The title is agreed to be "FNCA Guideline for Biofertilizer Vol. 2 Production of Biofertilizer Carrier Using Radiation Technology". Draft of Vol. 2 will be prepared next year by expert from Malaysia.

Session 7 Minutes
The minutes and Conclusion and Recommendation were discussed and agreed by all participants. It will be reported at the 15th Coordinators Meeting to be held in 2014, in Japan. The next workshop may be held in Vietnam or Malaysia. Conclusion and Recommendation is Annex 5.

Closing Session
Ms. Liza Custodio, BIOTECH delivered a closing remarks and Dr. Machi expressed appreciation to warm hospitality from the Philippines.

2) Technical visit
On the 3rd day November 20, participants visited Costales Nature Farm owned by Mr. Ronald Costales located at Majayjay, which is using Bio-N and Mykovam from BIOTECH and producing their own organic fertilizers using microorganisms. The FNCA participants were given lecture about the farm and were toured around to see different organic vegetables planted and animals fed on organic products from the farm.

3) Annex
Annex 1 Program of FNCA 2013 Workshop on Biofertilizer
Annex 2 Participants List of FNCA 2013 Workshop on Biofertilizer
Annex 3 Summary of Session 1 Country Report
Annex 4 Experiment II Study on Plant Pathogen Suppression for Experiment of Synergy Effect between Biofertilizer and Irradiated Oligochitosan
Annex 5 Conclusion and Recommendation

Program of
FNCA 2013 Workshop on Biofertilizer Project