Campus Overview
The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), one of the campuses of the UP system, is a public university located in the towns of Los Baños and Bay in the province of Laguna. The UP College of Agriculture was the first college established in 1909, with the focus of promoting agricultural education and research in the Philippines. UPLB was formally established in 1972 following the union of UP College of Agriculture with four other Los Baños and Diliman-based University of the Philippines units.
UPLB is known for its contribution to the fields of agriculture and biotechnology, with pioneering work in plant breeding, bioengineering, and development of high-yielding and pest-resistant crops. Presently, UPLB hosts nine research centers that are recognized as Centers of Excellence by presidential decree. It is also home to local and international research centers, including the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, World Agro- forestry Centre, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
The UPLB campus houses more than 300 buildings spread over its 5,445-ha land area encom- passing the entire Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) and surrounding areas. UPLB also has land grants in the provinces of Laguna, Negros Occidental, and Quezon with a combined area of 9,760 ha.
The 5,719-ha Laguna-Quezon Land Grant was acquired in February 1930, it is located in the towns of Real, Quezon, and Siniloan, Laguna. It covers some portions of the Sierra Madre mountain range and hosts the university’s Citronella and lemongrass plantations. The 705-ha La Carlota Land Grant which was acquired in May 1964 is located in Negros Occidental. It houses the PCARRD-DOST La Granja Agricultural Research Center, which serves as a research center for various upland crops. The 3,336-ha Laguna Land Grant which is located in Paete, Laguna is mostly undeveloped.
