TRONO: A lot more has to be discovered. MALACAN虄ANG PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擧is nearly five decades-long career as a top marine scientist runs parallel to the advancement of commercial seaweed farming in the country.
University of the Philippines professor emeritus听Gavino听C.听Trono听Jr., now 83, has devoted his life work of 47 years鈥攁nd still counting鈥攖o harnessing the country鈥檚 abundant seaweed resources through sound cultivation methods and open economic opportunities, especially for marginalized coastal communities.
Thanks in large part to听Trono, seaweed production is now a major industry for an estimated one million Filipinos, mostly small farmers and their families. Seaweed is also one of the country鈥檚 top agricultural exports.
On Aug. 12, the esteemed biologist was conferred the title of National Scientist鈥攖he highest honor given to the country鈥檚 scientists鈥攆or his outstanding contributions in seaweed biodiversity, biology, ecology and culture.
Trono听has written the two-volume 鈥淔ield Guide and Atlas of the Seaweed Resources of the Philippines,鈥� considered the most authoritative book on the biodiversity and culture of seaweeds.
His extensive studies on the culture of the most commercially cultivated species听Eucheuma听denticulatum,听Kappaphycus听alvarezii,听Gracilaria听spp.,听Caulerpa听lentillifera听and听Halymenia听durvillei听have benefited hundreds of thousands of seaweed farmers.
He is also credited for being largely instrumental in developing commercial farming of听Euchema听and听Kappaphycus. Seaweed farms currently cover some 40,000 hectares, spanning Luzon,听Visayas听and Mindanao.
Marine treasure听
Aside from being a food source, seaweeds are a source of colloidal materials vital in the manufacture of a wide range of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products.
Its most important component, carrageenan, is used in ice cream, chocolates, custards, cake topping and fillings, milk shakes, yogurts, dessert gel, canned foods, fish gel and sauces, among other things.
It is also used in the manufacture of water-based paints, toothpaste, lotions, shampoos and beer.
The Philippines is a top exporter of dried seaweeds and carrageenan worldwide.
But time was when seaweed use was a negligible economic activity despite the country鈥檚 vast coastline, recalled听Trono, who started immersing himself in the study of tropical marine phycology (scientific study of algae) in the 鈥�60s.
鈥淚 realized at the beginning that our seaweed resources are very important,鈥澨齌rono听told the Inquirer in an interview at his office at the UP Marine Science Institute.
According to听Trono, seaweed farming, as an alternative livelihood for fishermen, is 鈥渢he most economically productive and environment-friendly鈥� means of earning a living in coastal communities.
鈥淚n fish culture, only the owner or manager and one or two laborers who maintain the fish cages benefit. But in seaweed farming, thousands of people in the coastal areas benefit. The benefits are more widely spread so more people benefit,鈥� he said.
Modest beginnings听
Trono听grew from modest beginnings in Negros Occidental, where he was born in 1931 to parents who were both teachers.
A year after the end of the war, he migrated to Manila and supported himself through high school by shining shoes and selling snacks.
In 1951, he earned admission to the University of the Philippines听Diliman, being among the top graduates of Rizal High School.
After getting his degree in Botany in 1954, he went on to earn a masters degree in Agricultural Botany in 1961 at Gregorio听Araneta听University Foundation in听Malabon听(now De La Salle听Araneta听University) while doing part-time work there.
University of Hawaii grant听
Through a grant, he pursued doctorate studies in Marine Botany at University of Hawaii under the late
Dr. Maxwell Doty, one of those credited for introducing commercial seaweed farming in the Philippines.
When the funds from the grant ran out,听Trono听worked as a graduate teaching assistant to sustain his five-year stay in the university.
When he returned in 1967, he took a teaching post at UP while continuing his research work on seaweeds.
Trono鈥檚听expertise was also tapped by international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, which drove him to the Pacific for his research work.
Outstanding scholar听
When he retired from teaching in 2000, he was named UP professor emeritus in 2005 in acknowledgment of his status as an outstanding scholar.
In 2008, he was formally accepted to the country鈥檚 top scientific body, the National Academy of Science and Technology.
500 seaweed species听
Trono听still lives in the UP campus with wife,听Lety, while their three children have their own families and careers.
But there is no stopping听Trono听from pursuing his passion. He continues to work on several research projects, the lifeblood of an academician. He also jogs around UP and swims.
Even now, he has no problem going on fieldwork with his research assistants and staff.
鈥淎 lot more has yet to be discovered. There鈥檚 still a large [shortage] in our knowledge of our seaweed resources and the potential of the different species for economic use,鈥� he said.
About 500 seaweed species have so far been documented.听Trono听has described 25 new species.
But he estimated that between 100 to 200 species have yet to be described.
Industry problems听
鈥淲e have very little information on the microscopic species,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are many problems in the seaweed industry that require study.鈥�
For one, he said farmers have been using the same seed stocks for the last 40 years, reducing their vigor.
The carrying capacity of the traditional farming sites have also decreased due to environmental degradation.
To help farmers minimize their losses,听Trono听has studied the cropping schedule in听Sitangkai,听Tawi-Tawi; in听Danahon听Reef in Bohol; and in听Calatagan,听Batangas.
Very good alternative听
鈥淢y main interest now is to determine the periods of schedule of farming for different varieties. Because different varieties have different听seasonalities听based on specific farming areas,鈥� he said.
His colleagues are working on hybridization to revive seed stocks, he said.
鈥淲e also need to develop new farming areas,鈥� he said, citing potential areas in听Pangasinan,听Sorsogon听and Mindoro.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to achieving my goal to develop our seaweed resources to benefit our coastal population who live in poverty. Now that our fishery resources are depleted, seaweed farming is a very good alternative,鈥� he said.
鈥淎 lot still has to be done. I鈥檓 hoping and praying I have several years more of active work, God willing,鈥澨齌rono听said.
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