Filipino scientist joins editorial boards of leading global journals

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina aquaculture scientist and Ateneo de Manila University associate professor Janice A. Ragaza has been appointed to leadership positions in two internationally recognized scientific journals, highlighting the growing role of Filipino researchers in shaping global scientific discourse on aquaculture and animal nutrition.

Ragaza, an associate professor in the Ateneo Department of Biology, has been named associate editor of Animal Feed Science and Technology. She was also appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Aquaculture, where she is among only a handful of scholars from the Philippines and Southeast Asia serving on the board.

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In a statement, Ateneo’s Office of the Assistant Vice President for Research, Creative Work and Innovation said the appointments place Ragaza in key editorial roles at two of the field’s most respected scientific publications.

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Animal Feed Science and Technology is regarded as one of the world’s leading journals on animal nutrition, feed development and livestock production, while the Journal of Applied Aquaculture publishes research that advances aquaculture science and practice internationally.

The university said the appointments build on Ragaza’s growing involvement in international academic publishing.

Since last year, she has served on the editorial board of Discover Animals. She is also a member of the advisory board of Aquaculture Research, making her one of the first Filipinas to sit on the editorial boards of several globally recognized academic journals.

Ragaza heads the Ateneo Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory, where her research focuses on aquaculture nutrition, fish biology and biotechnology.

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Her latest work has also drawn attention to environmental threats facing Philippine freshwater ecosystems.

In a recent study, Ragaza and fellow Ateneo researcher Hannah Nicole Gasmen found that invasive flowerhorn cichlids, originally introduced through the aquarium trade, have become established in Lake Sampaloc in Laguna, where they threaten native biodiversity and local aquaculture.

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The researchers said the species has become integrated into local aquaculture, displacing native fish, thriving even in polluted waters and potentially serving as a reservoir for parasites and other contaminants.

The study also proposed converting harvested invasive flowerhorns into aquafeed, subject to safety screening, as part of a circular economy approach to managing their population.

The researchers said the findings could help inform evidence-based strategies to control invasive freshwater species and protect Philippine aquatic ecosystems.

READ: Invasive aquarium fish threatens San Pablo’s Lake Sampaloc

The proposal is also consistent with Ragaza’s research, which has long focused on developing more sustainable solutions for aquaculture.

Much of her work examines sustainable alternatives to conventional fish feeds, including indigenous and locally available raw materials, plant-based proteins and agricultural byproducts to improve fish growth and health.

Ateneo said her studies have been widely published and cited, contributing to efforts toward more sustainable fisheries management in the Philippines and other countries.

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The university also said Ragaza has consistently advocated environmentally responsible aquaculture practices, particularly for economically important species such as Nile tilapia.

Ateneo said Ragaza’s latest appointments underscore not only her achievements but also the growing presence of Filipino and Southeast Asian scientists in shaping international research and scientific dialogue on aquaculture and animal nutrition./dm