Project ASUCAR, or Accelerating Sugarcane Products Utilization for Commodity Availability and Reliability is an initiative implemented by the collaborative partnership among the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VI, Pharma GalenX Innovations, Inc., and the University of San Agustin and Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development. The project aims to develop functional food derived from agricultural commodities in Western Visayas to improve the health and well-being of Filipinos. One of the project’s objectives is to increase the value of muscovado products by assessing their physicochemical and microbiological properties, nutritional composition, and mineral content. The marker compounds for the authentication of muscovado sugar will be established through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectroscopy (MS) analyses. This sought to increase the competitiveness of the muscovado products in the region.

On October 1, 2024, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), as the project’s funding agency, conducted a monitoring meeting at the University of San Agustin. Following the meeting, the team visited the DOST VI Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL) to evaluate the condition of equipment acquired through the project. This visit was instrumental in assessing project progress and ensuring the success of ongoing initiatives.

DOST Regional Office VI was represented by a team composed of the Project Staff and was headed by the Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, Dr. Naomi Cossette R. Luis. The monitoring visit provided a platform for sharing the project’s current technical and financial updates while addressing key challenges.

This project is under the Program SPC-FUEL for Health: Sugarcane, Pulses, and Cacao Products from FUnctional Food Innovations to Enhance Life. (SMDValero, KFADuspar/RDIMS)