The Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, Natural Resources Research and Development (CorCAARRD) is substantially supported by DOST-PCAARRD. The regional consortia mechanism was established as a research management strategy composed of regional agecies who work together sharing resources (manpower, facilities, funds, equipment) and information in jointly managing its research and development activities. Hence, the Consortium provides the platform for joint RDE planning monitoring evaluation and sharing of resources amongst its member insitutions to achieve the development of agriculture, aquatic and natural resources in the region.

A. Background and History

1978-2022: HARC-HARRDEC-HAARRDEC-CorCAARRD

The realization of the need for a cooperative research effort that would unify technical recommendations and further resolve the critical constraints to the productivity of highland agriculture led the then Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research (PCARR) and the Mountain State Agriculture College (MSAC) now the Benguet State University to setting-up an agricultural research center which will enhance countryside development, with particular emphasis on highland agriculture.

Thus, the Highland Agriculture Research Center (HARC) was created on November 17, 1978 through a memorandum of agreement executed and entered into by and between PCARR and MSAC.

It was made operational however in 1979 and MSAC served as its base agency. Dr. William D. Dar, who was then the Head of the Research and Development Division Office of MSAC, was designed as the first head of HARC as Research Coordinator and MSAC President Bruno M. Santos served as the first Research Consortium Coordinating Committee Chairman.

On December 19, 1980, the status of HARC as a research center was elevated to a research consortium with the formal joining of three well-known research agencies to commence and ideal research management scheme for better complementation in research and development and resolve duplication and overlapping of projects and activities.

The newly joint institutions were the Baguio-Experiments Station ans the Bugias Experiment Station under the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI); the Conifer Forest Research Center under the Forest Research Institute (FORI); and the Baguio Dairy Farm under the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). These institutions along with PCARR, MSAC, NEDA and the Ministry of Agriclture-Region 1 were the seven pioneer consortium members that established the consortium's beginnings.

Pioneering efforts were further intensified with strengthened inter-agency linkages made by the consortium. These made them a key player in the field of research and technology development, packaging, testing and dissemination in several undertakings of its partner agencies as well as with private partners. Its growing networks in all levels allowed them as well to increase their resource generation and sharing that has funded more projects, programs and activities benefiting more stakeholders.

Being the regional arm, HARC evolved along with the changes made with PCARRD's reorganization in 1987, HARRC evolved to become the Highland Agriculture Research and Resources,Natural Development Consortium (HARRDEC) to highlight the inclusion of natural resources in its priority commodities. The acronym evolved from HARRC with the inclusion of 'resources' in the original name but was immediately replaced with HARRDEC to include both "resources and development" affirming its role in development.

In the same year, Dr. Percival Alipit replaced Dr. Dar who was then appointed as the first director of the newly created Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). MSAC or the base agency at that time was elevated as a state university in 1986 to become the now Benguet State University.

Through the following years, changes in its structure and activities evolved with the demands of times. The four regular programs have gradually expanded to seven regular programs as follows: Techno Gabay Program (TGP), Research and Technology Management Program (RTMP), Regional Applied Communication Program (RACP), Regional Management Information System (RMIS), Human Resource Development Program (HRDP), Gender and Development (GAD) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

This structure of the consortium was eventually reorganized in 2009 creating the four banner programs, thus the R&D and Technology Management; R&D Activities; R&D Results Utilization; Capability Building and Governance; and Policy Advocacy. The consortium adopted the new organizational structure instituted by PCARRD with the end in view to streamline the processes. In 2009, it has also organized the Regional Experts Pool (REP) to provide technical advice and support services to the four working groups.

Consequently, its programs and activities blossomed with all the new strategies and innovations embraced by the consortium in response to emerging AANR concerns in the region. With the inclusion of aquatic resources in its mandate, HARRDEC became HAARRDEC to include aquatic in its acronym in 2012. This happened following the merging of PCARRD and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) in 2011 which now formed the PCAARRD to include aquatic and marine resources in its functions.

The consortium bannered HARRDEC/HAARRDEC as its name and brand for over three decades until it was renamed as Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development (CorCAARRD) in 2018 through RRDCC Res.No.24.s.2017, to give emphasis to its geographical premise and to embody its unique identity as a region. Along this change was also the expansion of its coverage to also include lowland areas of the region in response to the clamor of its stakeholders.

For the past 44 years, the consortium had eight consortium directors and RRDCC Chairpersons elected from its member agencies. Over the decades, the consortium has prominently gained recognitions from DOST-PCAARRD as testament to its dedication and hard work. In 1997, it was adjudged as 3rd runner up for the Ugnay Award. It rose to 2nd runner up in 1998 and finally topping the Ugnay Award in 1999. The consortium again placed 3rd for the same award in 2012 and recently in 2020. Meanwhile, then Consortium Director Carlito P. Laurean won the Pantas award in 2019 while the base agency, BSU received its first Tanglaw Award in 2017.