Bioversity Scientist Receives Honorary Award

Dr. Agustin B. Molina, a Bioversity International senior scientist and regional coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, has been honoured with a prestigious award from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA). 

Presented at a special ceremony on 26th June 2010, the UPAA Distinguished Alumnus Award in Science and Technology was made in recognition of Dr. Molina's significant banana research work and contributions not only at an academic level but also within private industry and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). 

Dr. Molina attributed his success to the support of partners from the national programs as well as his colleagues and co-workers:

"This award is very important to me because it is a recognition of the relevance of our research work and its impact on our target community particularly the poor. It gives me a lot of fulfillment to know that my peers in the academy and alma mater conferred me this honor. It serves to further motivate me to do more, to carry out our research work towards impacts, not only in the academic sense but in a practical sense. Thanks to Bioversity for this opportunity".

Particular recognition was given to his research outputs including:

• increased capacities of small-scale banana growers in the Philippines and Pacific Region especially dealing with the banana bunchy top disease
• improved production systems including the conservation and use of Musa diversity and a sustainable healthy seedling system
• leading a regional and global research initiative to mitigate the threat of the Tropical Race 4 (TR4) of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, currently the most serious threat to the banana industry