| Agency Name: | Bureau of Agricultural Research |
| Nativename: | Kawanihan ng Pananaliksik sa Agrikultura |
| Seal: | Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).svg |
| Formed: | January 30, 1987 |
| Headquarters: | RDMIC Building, Visayas Avenue corner Elliptical Road, Vasra, Quezon City 1104, Philippines |
| Coordinates: | 14.6547°N 121.0477°W |
| Budget: | ₱1.17 billion Php (2018)[1] |
| Chief1 Name: | Junel B. Soriano, PhD |
| Chief1 Position: | Director |
| Parent Agency: | Department of Agriculture |
The Philippines' Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR; fil|Kawanihan ng Pananaliksik sa Agrikultura), is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that all agricultural research is coordinated and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture.
In 1901, the United States Philippine Commission created the Insular Bureau of Agriculture under the Department of Interior. The Bureau was given the following mandate:
“to conduct investigations and disseminate useful information with reference to the agricultural resources of the Philippine Islands, the methods of cultivation at present in vogue and their improvement, the practicability of introducing new and valuable agricultural products, the introduction of new domesticated animals, and improvement of the breeds of domesticated animals now found in the Islands”.
In 1916, the Philippine Legislature reorganized the government creating the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), replacing the Bureau of Agriculture.
In 1953, the Bureau of Agricultural Extension was created under the DANR.
On September 26, 1972, the first decree promulgated by then President Ferdinand Marcos was for the reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government. For DANR, no major changes took place except for the further expansion of the department.
The first serious attempt to integrate research, development, and extension activities in agriculture and fisheries by the government was done by President Corazon Aquino in 1986 when under the Freedom Constitution she issued Executive Order 116 reorganizing the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.[2]
Under this executive order, the government addressed the lack of coordination and integration of agriculture research and development among the existing bureaus, councils, and agencies by creating the Research, Training, and Extension Group.
BAR's specific mandate to coordinate agricultural research was affirmed by Executive Order 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987.[3]
The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) was created by virtue of Executive Order 116 signed in 1987. It is mandated to ensure that agricultural research are coordinated and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture. The EO requires the Bureau to tap farmers, farmers’ organizations and research institutions especially state colleges and universities (SCUs) in the conduct of research for use by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its clientele.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 or AFMA (Republic Act 8435) and Executive Orders 127 (1999) and 338 (2001) affirmed and strengthened the role of BAR in the management of agriculture and fisheries Research and Development (R&D) in the Philippines. The AFMA law and the Executive Orders mandate BAR to orchestrate, consolidate and strengthen the National Research and Development System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NaRDSAF).
On November 3, 2020, Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril took over as the next BAR Director.
On November 3, 2021, Dr. Junel B. Soriano officially assumed the position of BAR Director, replacing Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril.
On August 15, 2022, Dr. Sailila E. Abdula was designated as the OIC-Director of the Bureau, replacing Dr. Soriano.
Dr. Abdula was then replaced by Joell H. Lales as the OIC-Director of the Bureau on October 24, 2022.
In the pursuit of its vision and mandate, BAR is guided by the following strategies: