The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the  Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women's empowerment in agriculture through its participation in the 2nd International Conference on Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture (WELA). In collaboration with the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), the hybrid conference took place in Naga City from March 11–12, 2024. 

Themed “Celebrating women leaders in championing the SDGs,” WELA gathered faculty members, researchers, policymakers, students, and local government units (LGU). Throughout the two-day event, discussions were focused on women leadership in agriculture and food security, women leading in peace and conflict resolution, gender in research and governance, development of policy briefs, quality alternative education, social entrepreneurship, and more.  

In his message of support, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora highlighted that the Council has always believed that gender considerations are pivotal to high-quality research with the ultimate aim of advancing gender equality and social inclusion in the country. This has been echoed by CBSUA President Alberto N. Nepali and the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu, Public Service Medal (PSM), who both recognized that inclusivity and women empowerment should be pursued for AANR innovation to move forward. 

WELA is an annual conference initiated by the Filipina Meryl Williams Fellows (MWF). It has been an effective platform for exchanging updated scientific knowledge and experiences in forwarding gender in sustainable development. This year’s WELA brought in notable speakers from various technical and cultural backgrounds across the globe to share their expertise from their fields.

The conference is composed of three plenary sessions, each discussing women’s leadership roles in various sectors. The first day of the conference mainly focused on discussing the linkages of women in fisheries management, organic and root crop value chains, rural development, food security, research and development (R&D), and peace and conflict management. The speakers presented the best practices and frameworks that empower women to take on leadership roles. The second day continued with the promotion of Gender and Development (GAD) in education, R&D, and entrepreneurship. Speakers presented positive impacts and contributions of integrating GAD in program and systems design.

Four DOST-PCAARRD-funded GAD projects were presented in the two-day conference including projects on “Expanding Organic Vegetable Production Capacity Building of Female Farmers in Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing in Laguna;” “Development of S&T-based Gender-responsive and Crisis-resilient Root and Tuber Crops Value Chain Through a Participatory Market Chain Approach” led by Dr. Lorna E. Sister from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); “Gender Analysis Framework and Monitoring and Evaluation Tools in Gender Responsive AANR Development Projects (GAME Tools in AANR)” under the leadership of Dr. Blesshe L. Querijero (UPLB); and “Annotated Compendium of Gender and Development Research in Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR): Towards Developing the AANR Gender and Development Research and Development Agenda and Framework” under Dr. Glory Dee A. Romo (UP Mindanao).

The 2nd International Conference on WELA was conducted in close partnership between  CBSUA (host), Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Australian Aid, DOST-PCAARRD, Cavite State University, UP Mindanao, Mindanao State University-Naawan, Caraga State University, Xavier University, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges-V (PASUC V), and the Philippine Association of Research Managers-Bicol. DOST-PCAARRD has been supporting qualified professional/scientific and academic organizations that pursue activities advocating the Council’s banner programs and goals. The 3rd WELA was announced to be hosted by MSU-Naawan in March 2025.

Iba’t ibang napapanahong imbensyon at inobasyon ang ibibida sa Root Crops Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda o FIESTA na gaganapin mula ika-24 hangang 25 ng Abril sa Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte.

Ang FIESTA ay itataguyod ng mga ahensyang kasapi ng tatlong R&D consortia sa Visayas. Gabay ang temang “Sustainable and Effective Solutions for Climate Change, Urbanization, Research, Economic, and Development (SECURED),” layon ng Root Crops FIESTA na ipamalas sa publiko ang resulta ng research and development (R&D) na tiyak na maghahatid ng kaunlaran para sa industriya.

Mas kilalanin ang industriya ng halamang ugat o ‘root crops’ sa bansa. Matuto sa mga eksperto ng agham, matatagumpay na magsasaka, at mga negosyante sa inihahandang FIESTA technology forum. Maaari rin matunghayaan ang mga tekholohiyang handa na para sa komersyalisasyon sa FIESTA ‘technology pitching event.’

Ilan sa mga magiging tampok ay mga teknolohiya sa pagsasaka gaya ng ‘sweetpotato weevil pheromone,’ ‘hydroponic vertical gardening systems,’ at ‘root crop fertilization technologies.’ Sa larangan ng food processing, ibibida ang ‘portable vacuum fryers,’ ‘root crop chippers,’ at ‘portable flour machines.’ Tampok din ang mga masasarap na food technologies gaya nga taro wine, taro brownies, sweet potato flour, ubi pastillas, at marami pang iba.

Ang Root Crops FIESTA ay hatid ng Western Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVAARRDEC), Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC), at ng Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Program (ViCARP) sa tulong ng Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa Root Crops FIESTA, bisitihan ang facebook.com/FIESTAPCAARRD.

The Philippine government has initiated efforts in natural capital accounting in response to the escalating pressures of population growth and the misuse of natural resources. 

Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) is a method used to measure the value of a country's natural resources and the services it offers society. However, current natural capital accounting efforts have primarily concentrated on the regional and national level, highlighting the need for an approach to utilizing and managing local natural resources.

To address this concern, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) collaborated with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) on a project to revolutionize the way local governments account for and manage their natural capital.

Titled "Developing and Piloting LGU-based Natural Capital Accounting for Improved Governance and Management of Community Natural Assets," the project aims to create a localized NCA framework aligned with the United Nations (UN) guidelines that national government agencies will utilize for the National NCA Roadmap. It also seeks to develop user-friendly tools like calculators to aid LGUs in establishing natural capital accounts and enhance their capacity in the ecosystem.

In the project’s inception meeting last January 25, 2024, Dr. Agustin Arcenas, Project Leader and Director of Community Innovations Studies Center (CISC) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), emphasized the need to establish a localized framework and calculator to kickstart the development of stock and flow accounts within LGUs. This initiative aims to gradually reinforce their financial resources and technical capacity. Furthermore, Dr. Arcenas outlined the project's plans, including replicating the framework and fostering support and collaboration with other agencies and institutions.

The project has identified proposed pilot sites, including the selected municipalities/cities in Laguna and Palawan. Discussions during the meeting also covered various activities, including a thorough assessment of LGUs' technical capabilities and financial resources. Additionally, technical training on the basic principles of natural capital accounting and the extensive inventory of the community's natural capital ecosystem were addressed, as these activities will be instrumental in data collection and capacity building for LGUs.

The inception meeting was attended by resource persons Dr. Gem Castillo, President of Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc. (REECS); Ms. Maria Katrina Apaya, Environmental and Social Consultant of ARUP;  Ms. Virginia Bathan, Chief Statistical Specialist of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and Mr. Roald Ray Taperla, Supervising Economic Development Specialist of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), who has provided his written comments.

This project is aligned with the efforts to institutionalize natural capital accounting in the country, such as the Senate bill “Philippine Environment and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Bill,” which adopts the framework provided by the UN. Moreover, NEDA, PSA, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have collaborated to develop a roadmap for the institutionalization of NCA in the Philippines, spanning from 2022 to 2040.

DOST-PCAARRD and UPLB hope this endeavor will revolutionize how local governments account for, manage, and handle their natural resources. The project started its implementation in November 2023 and is expected to run for 2 years.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) granted trademark approval to the logo of LB Veggie Move on September 5, 2023, marking a significant achievement for Los Baños' local supply chain. This milestone solidifies LB Veggie Move's identity and highlights its decade-long dedication to delivering fresh and safe locally sourced vegetables. The trademark, valid for ten years, symbolizes triumph for the local supply chain. 

LB Veggie Move’s logo represents the online platform utilized by The Association of Safe Fruit and Vegetable Growers in Los Baños (ASFVG-LB) to sell their produce. Developed through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) project, "Development of Inclusive Resilient S&T-Based Vegetable Supply Chain for the New Normal," the platform offers a variety of vegetables sourced directly from local farms in Los Baños, Laguna. More than just a convenience, this platform is a beacon of sustainability, offering vegetables cultivated without pesticides and adhering to Internal Control System (ICS) practices, thus promoting both health benefits and the economic welfare of local farmers.

The initiative aimed to establish a resilient vegetable supply chain for Los Baños through a supply chain management system created by the Council’s Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH). This system enables farmers to transport their produce to a central consolidation facility, streamlining collection, storage, and distribution for direct farm-to-consumer and institutional arrangements. LB Veggie Move serves as the marketing arm for this revolutionary endeavor.

The recent trademark approval signifies LB Veggie Move's unwavering dedication to delivering safe and fresh vegetables to everyone’s doorstep. Furthermore, ASFVG-LB has solidified its commitment to fostering partnerships and enhancing direct farmer-buyer relationships. During the 2023 Agrilink at the World Trade Center, the association signed a  Memorandum of Understanding alongside seven farmers' organizations and five major food companies including Kitchen City, Global Food Solutions, Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc. (PHILFOODEX), and Hilas Marketing Corporation, solidifying their partnership for direct product marketing.

Discover and purchase fresh and safe local vegetables by visiting LB Veggie Move today: https://www.lbveggiemove.com/

The Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD) of DOST-PCAARRD facilitated the trademark registration process with IPOPHL.