Dr. Salazar said that the open-pollinated corn variety has highly acceptable grit quality, high quality protein maize, and more lysine than other corn varieties. Lysine is important for proper growth and plays an essential role in the production of carnitine, a nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and for reducing cholesterol levels. Lysine cannot be produced by the body so it must be obtained from food.

Secretary Yap said that he is honored to have the promising variety named after him. He thanked the University for its contributions to agriculture and appealed to UPLB constituents to continue to be partners of the Department of Agriculture in the latter's quest to advance agriculture.

He said that the challenges in Philippine agriculture remain the same in spite of technological advancement. He also expressed concern over the adverse effects of climate change to agriculture. Yap encouraged UPLB to propose projects that will address climate change. "DA is willing to fund large-budget projects that have great multiplier effect than small researches that promise small contributions," he added.

According to Yap, the real problem of agriculture is not the lack of technologies but how to bridge the gap between technology generation and adaptation by farmers.

The launching also included presentations that aimed to inform Secretary Yap of the technologies that UPLB has generated to improve the agriculture in the country. (JAA Oruga)