Pangasinan State University and Provincial Government Advance Homegrown Innovations for Salt Production and Food Security

Homegrown Research Is Moving Beyond the Laboratory and Into Communities

Innovation creates the greatest impact when research is transformed into practical solutions that improve people’s lives.

Pangasinan State University (PSU) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan are strengthening their collaboration on research, extension, and innovation initiatives designed to enhance local industries, create new economic opportunities, and improve disaster resilience across the province.

During a recent meeting with Governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” V. Guico III, PSU President Dr. Elbert M. Galas, together with Dr. Razaele G. Resultay, Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation, and Engr. Rex Basuel, Program Leader of the PSU-DOST NICER ASIN Center, presented several research-driven technologies that are ready for real-world deployment.

A New Salt Technology Could Modernize One of Pangasinan’s Oldest Industries

Among the technologies presented was the Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) salt production system, developed by the PSU-DOST ASIN National Research and Development Center in Binmaley under the Department of Science and Technology’s NICER Program.

Unlike traditional salt farming, which depends heavily on favorable weather conditions, the EDR system can produce high-quality salt within hours using a more efficient and weather-resilient process.

The university has proposed deploying the technology at the provincial government’s salt farm in Bolinao, allowing Pangasinan to modernize production while complementing existing salt farming practices rather than replacing them.

If successfully implemented, the initiative could significantly improve productivity, increase the value of locally produced salt, and strengthen one of the province’s traditional industries through science and technology.

Research Is Also Addressing Food Security During Disasters

Beyond salt production, PSU also presented its freeze-dry food innovation, which aims to improve emergency food preparedness for communities affected by disasters.

Freeze-drying allows nutritious food to be preserved for significantly longer periods while maintaining quality, making it easier for governments and humanitarian organizations to provide reliable food supplies during emergencies.

As climate-related disasters become more frequent, innovations that improve food security are becoming increasingly important components of local resilience planning.

Universities Are Becoming Drivers of Regional Innovation

The partnership reflects a growing shift in the role of Philippine universities.

Beyond education, higher education institutions are increasingly serving as research and innovation hubs that develop technologies capable of addressing local economic and societal challenges.

Rather than allowing research outputs to remain within academic institutions, collaborations with local governments enable promising technologies to be tested, adopted, and eventually commercialized where they can deliver measurable public impact.

This approach strengthens both public sector innovation and regional economic competitiveness.

What This Means for Northern Luzon’s Innovation Ecosystem

The collaboration between Pangasinan State University and the Provincial Government demonstrates how regional innovation ecosystems become stronger when universities, government, and industry work toward shared development goals.

The proposed deployment of the EDR salt technology represents more than a research project. It offers a pathway for transforming locally developed intellectual property into solutions that support traditional industries, generate economic value, and improve livelihoods.

For founders and innovators across Northern Luzon, this reinforces an important lesson: some of the region’s most valuable innovations may emerge from research institutions addressing local challenges rather than importing technologies developed elsewhere.

If the Pangasinan model proves successful, it could serve as a blueprint for commercializing university research across other sectors including agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, fisheries, and disaster resilience throughout Northern Luzon.

The strengthened partnership between Pangasinan State University and the Provincial Government represents more than a commitment to research collaboration. It highlights how homegrown innovation can move beyond the laboratory to strengthen industries, improve public services, and create lasting economic opportunities for local communities.

Original Source

This article is based on information released by Pangasinan State University regarding its partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan to advance research, extension, and innovation initiatives. We acknowledge PSU for sharing information about its ongoing efforts to deploy locally developed technologies that support regional development.

Market Context

Universities are increasingly becoming key contributors to regional innovation ecosystems by transforming research into technologies with commercial and social applications. Programs such as DOST’s Niche Centers in the Regions (NICER) encourage higher education institutions to develop specialized research capabilities that address local industry needs. For regions like Northern Luzon, where agriculture, fisheries, and natural resource-based industries remain economic drivers, successful commercialization of university-developed technologies can improve productivity, strengthen local value chains, and create new opportunities for startups, manufacturers, and public-private partnerships.