The Philippines has etched its name into the Guinness World Records for the most number of people planting bamboo simultaneously across multiple locations.

This remarkable achievement was confirmed by Guinness World Records adjudicator Sonia Ushiriguchi on November 28, 2024, during the celebration of the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Cagayan De Oro City.

Designed to raise global awareness about the critical role of bamboo in promoting sustainability, circular economies, and climate resilience, this record-setting event showcased bamboo’s potential as a renewable resource essential to various industry value chains.

A total of 2,305 planters took part in this milestone event, which was conducted by the DOST in partnership with the Kawayanihan Circular Economy Movement, on October 18, 2024. The simultaneous planting took place at 19 different locations across Mindanao and Leyte, aligning with the DOST’s framework on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Circular Economy (STI4CE).

“We must love our environment as much as we love our children — ensuring they are healthy and live in a peaceful, stable place,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said, underscoring the importance of the STI4CE framework.

As the lead agency providing innovative science and technology solutions, the DOST developed the STI4CE framework to guide its attached agencies in promoting a circular economy, sustainable consumption and production, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects.

A circular economy is crucial for conserving finite resources, reducing environmental impacts, and fostering economic resilience. It encourages the reuse, repair, and recycling of materials, minimizes waste, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and combats climate change.

Meanwhile, the planted bamboo will be geotagged and included in the Bamboo Resource Inventory System (BRIS), a knowledge management portal developed by researchers from the Bamboo Niche R&D Center of Central Mindanao University. This system aims to identify and project the potential supply of bamboo and its socioeconomic impact when fully utilized

Furthermore, stakeholders involved in the event will coordinate to create a harmonized bamboo industry development program. This program will align with the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap and will establish data-driven decision support mechanisms, pre-processing and value-adding activities, and provide logistics and marketing support.

Participating institutions included farmer cooperatives, government agencies, local government units, policymakers, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies. Their collective effort highlights a shared vision for a greener, more resilient Mindanao, where sustainable practices are not just encouraged but integral to the island’s development strategies.