By Kenneth Marcos 
In a busy conference room at Quezon City’s NFRDI Central Office, participants leaned over their laptops and notebooks, eager to turn months of aquaculture innovations into stories that inspire. From November 18 to 19, the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) hosted a writeshop to highlight the achievements of its Aquabiz School and Technology Business Incubation (ABS-TBI) program.
The program, which supports fish farmers and aquaculture entrepreneurs, introduces a Package of Technology (POT) designed to improve production, income, and business practices among incubatees. The writeshop aimed to capture the real-life impact of these technologies, ensuring the experiences and successes of program participants are documented and shared.
“Documenting these success stories is vital,” said Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia, NFRDI executive director and ABS-TBI program supervisor. “This writeshop allows us to show how the technologies we introduced have helped our incubatees improve production, boost income, and run more sustainable aquaculture operations.”
Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos, Scientist V and chief of the Training Division, added that the effort also serves as an institutional memory, preserving best practices and milestones that can guide future incubatees and program partners. “It’s not just about technology. It’s about capturing lessons learned and inspiring others to follow the path of innovation,” he said.
The event brought together focal persons from four NFRDI centers, each serving as an aquabiz school under the program: the Fisheries Research and Development Center, Fisheries Biotechnology Center, Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center, and Brackishwater Fisheries Research and Development Center. Participants worked collaboratively to convert technical results into engaging stories, emphasizing the human side of aquaculture success.
Through these writeshop outputs, DA-NFRDI hopes to strengthen knowledge-sharing, encourage replication of effective technologies, and inspire a new generation of fish farmers and aquaculture entrepreneurs. By turning data into narratives, the program not only documents progress but also motivates stakeholders and communities to adopt innovative practices that improve productivity and livelihoods.
The ABS-TBI writeshop reflects the institute’s broader commitment to supporting sustainable aquaculture and empowering small-scale fish farmers, ensuring that technology and training reach the people who need them most.
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