To demonstrate and discuss how tropical fruit farmers in the Philippines adapt to climate-related impacts, 42 core group members and guests from 10 countries gathered together to hold the DFNet 2025 field trip and forum with the theme: “Knowledge to Action: Farmer Education and Adaptive Capacity in the Face of Climate Uncertainty.”
The event, held for the DFNet III Project of the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region (FFTC), was co-organized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and the Institute of Crop Science (ICropS), College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines, Los Baños (CAFS-UPLB). The participants were from 10 countries: India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
During the first and second day, the group conducted field visits at six tropical fruit farms in Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna to demonstrate climate-related risks and adaptive agricultural practices in the country. The field trip was intended to demonstrate first-hand the climate-related risks and adaptive agricultural practices in the production of various tropical fruits.
Among the farms that were showcased during the field trip are: Luis Nate Farm (pineapple and coconut) and Aya-Oyo Farm (mango) in Bataan, Bulacan Dragon Fruit Depot and Intellifarm Indoor Strawberry Farm in Bulacan, Eddie Silan Farm (dragon fruit and other fruit crops) in Cavite, and a Cabuyao Smallholder diversified Farm in Laguna.
As a culminating activity on the last day, a forum with DOST-PCAARRD officials and staff, UPLB researchers, and R&D partners was held at the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC). The forum was conducted to foster knowledge sharing and cross country learning to strengthen climate change adaptation efforts for the production of tropical fruits in the Asia Pacific region.
The activity kicked off with the welcome remarks and messages from Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, Dr. Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, Director of ICropS-UPLB, and Dr. Su-san Chang, Director of FFTC.
The activity also gave way to discussions and presentations on current and sustainable intercropping practices with coconut in the Philippines, presented by Dr. Edna Aguilar - adjunct professor of ICropS-UPLB. Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development of DOST-PCAARRD, also presented the Council's efforts on strengthening farmers' climate resilience through science and technology.
The forum included DFNet core group members’ country report presentations on strategies, success stories, and lessons learned on climate change adaptation in tropical fruits. The discussion also focused on farmer capacity building and education/dissemination.
The workshop was supported and spearheaded by the FFTC and organized with DFNet Core Group members of the Philippines: Mr. John Benrich M. Zuniga, DOST-PCAARRD’s Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Climate Change, and Dr. Bong M. Salazar, UPLB Institute of Crop Science Associate Professor.
The activity was held on October 28-30, 2025 and was also supported by DOST-PCAARRD’s Policy Coordinating and Monitoring Division (PCMD) through the Foreign Mission Fund. Technical support was also afforded by DOST-PCAARRD’s Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD), Crops Research Division (CRD), and Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD).