Criteria has been set forth in establishing research and extension priorities in the development, processing, and funding of research and extension proposals. UPLB consulted with its various units to identify research and extension thrusts.

At the 10th University Research and Extension Council (UREC) General Assembly held on February 19, 1996, the following thrusts were approved to be pursued:

Research

• Sustainable productivity and efficient resource use premised on ecological balance;
• Optimal rural and urban development;
• Appropriate technologies for processing industries;
• Basic research and cutting-edge technologies; and
• Indigenous knowledge systems and Philippine culture.

Extension

• Develop or test extension policies, models and approaches towards wider application;
• Respond to development issues, problems, changing needs and demands of its clientele;
• Disseminate and apply results of research and other relevant information and social technologies towards addressing issues and problems from the environment; and
• Contribute towards improving the quality of life of the people through improvement of agricultural production, better nutrition and health, and moral upliftment.

In 1999, UPLB's mandate was reassessed from its traditional role in providing national leadership in instruction, research and extension in agriculture, forestry and related fields to meeting the growing needs for quality education in the arts and sciences, humanities and engineering.

The university's mandate was broadened to include far-reaching policy and institutional reforms to address the problems of industry and agriculture; national development framework premised on accelerated economic growth; the Arroyo administration's social contract with the poor; the Agriculture and Fisheries and Modernization Act (AFMA) premised on dynamic, smallholder agriculture; a need to revitalize education; call for more investment in productivity-enhancing research and development; and the pressing need to enhance institutional capability at all levels. Further, with its several centers of excellence, UPLB shares it institutional resources with the country's state colleges and universities (SUCs).

With the broadened UPLB mandate, the strategic vision, plans of action and priority research areas were set as follows:

• Molecular biology and biotechnology
• Biodiversity and genetic resource management
• Natural resource management
• Information and communication technology
• Knowledge systems and development and policy studies, and
• Sustainable production systems

As part of his vision for UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco, UPLB oriented its programs to three priority areas – food and agriculture, environment, and biotechnology, where the university will focus and build its academic research programs around niches and themes that will respond to and anticipate major national needs:

Themes

• Agricultural Modernization and Competitiveness

• Equitable and Sustainable Rural Development
• Managing Tropical Ecosystems
• Urban-Rural Transition
• Research and Manpower Support to CALABARZON
• Continuing Education via Open and Distance Learning

Niches

• Alternative Energy RDE

• Natural Products RDE
• Bio-oganics RDE