The grace of dragonflies, the social structure of honeybees, and the colorful patterns of butterflies’ wings. These are some of the things that might have charmed Dr. Candida Adalla to become entomologist. Dr. Adalla is one of the country’s foremost experts in entomology (the study of insects).
Dr. Candida Adalla took up Entomology at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. She gained her master’s and doctorate degrees from the same institution, where she later taught, and which she later led as dean of the College of Agriculture.
Dr. Adalla primarily helps farmers deal with the pests that prevent them from maximizing their harvests. Ordinarily, pests are controlled by pesticides, but Dr. Adalla’s approach to the problem is holistic. Because she knows the ways of insects, she can identify which plants or crops possess inherent resistance to particular insect species. Her works help plant breeders raise hybrids of important crops that are resistant to various pests. Dr. Adalla actively participated in the breeding of pest-resistant corn, legumes and cotton varieties. Her findings were then integrated into the farming of rice, mungbean, soybean, cowpea, peanut, and wheat.
For her accomplishments, Dr. Adalla was nominated to the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in989.
Sources
► Adalla, Candida B. www.nast.dost.gov.ph/oys_adalla.htm
► ACPC grants UPLB P5 million to set up Agri Park. www.acpc.gov.ph/agripark.html