Farmers are responsible for planting and harvesting crops while technicians and researchers provide the appropriate knowledge or technology that modernizes farming methods and eventually increases productivity. There have been breakthroughs in agricultural research, especially in rice. In fact, foreign universities have acknowledged the significant contributions of Philippine-based research Institutions in this field.
Dr. Ruben L. Villareal is part of the growing number of agriculture-based researchers. He finished bachelor and masteral degrees at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. He obtained his doctoral degree at Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey.
Dr. Villareal’s efforts greatly contribute to the development of farming methods. His attention is focused, among others, on the development of crops with better quality and on vegetable and food processings. These complement the efforts of research institutions and may be considered a timely response to the needs of the food processing industry.
A team player, Dr. Villareal organizes projects which help the education sector. He works with educators and specialists in agriculture. This Filipino scientist authored books and technical papers widely recognized in his field.
Nothing that is good passes unnoticed. For all this efforts. Dr. Villareal was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1971.