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Author: DA Press Office | 25 July 2026 The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) has secured a Utility Model (UM) Registration Certificate and a Trademark Registration Certificate from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) for its innovations: Process of Producing Nanoparticle-Based Dietary Nutrient Mix Through Plant-Mediated Green Synthesis and NANO-NUTRIMIX(r). NFRDI Executive Director Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia lauded the research team led by Niko Macaraeg, Senior Science Research Specialist and chief of the Fish Nutrition and Feed Development Section of the Aquaculture Research and Development Division (ARDD), for achieving another milestone in fisheries research and innovation. When innovations are developed and protected through mechanisms like intellectual property registration, they are not only recognized as intellectual outputs but are also positioned for wider adoption, scaling, and impact. The UM registration of NANO-NUTRIMIX reflects this pathway, where research is translated into a technology that contributes to a more sustainable aquaculture sector, Dr. Mutia said. The registered inventors of the utility model are Niko Macaraeg, Dr. Mary Nia Santos, Dr. Joseph Christopher Rayos, Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia, Lovella Carolino, Sheena Faye Ecobisag, and Cathleen Dela Cruz. The trademark NANO-NUTRIMIX(r) was coined and registered by Macaraeg. NANO-NUTRIMIX(r) is a plant-mediated, green-synthesized nanoparticle-based dietary nutrient mix composed of iron, zinc, selenium, and copper nanoparticles, essential minerals that support fish nutrition and growth. The product can be incorporated directly into feeds or during feed manufacturing. Due to their nanoscale size, the minerals have greater surface area and enhanced absorption in the fish gut, making them more bioavailable and effective in supporting metabolism, growth, and immunity. According to Macaraeg, the innovation utilizes locally available plant materials, including duhat (Java plum) leaves, purslane leaves, tomato peels, and malunggay leaves, to produce nanoparticles through a reproducible, low-cost green synthesis process suitable for pilot-scale production. Initial laboratory trials showed positive effects on the growth, feed utilization, health performance, and potential immunity enhancement of Nile tilapia against Aeromonas veronii, he added. Green synthesis harnesses naturally occurring polyphenols in plant extracts, which serve as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents during nanoparticle formation. This environmentally friendly approach not only minimizes the use of hazardous chemicals but also enhances the biological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles through the bioactive compounds retained on their surface. The UM was developed under the DA-NFRDI-funded project, Development of nanoparticle-based dietary nutrient mix (NANO-NUTRIMIX) for Nile tilapia through plant-mediated green synthesis. The technology is currently undergoing pond-scale verification trials to further evaluate its safety and optimize its performance before wider application in the aquaculture industry.
