The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) is future-proofing the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector with the formation of the Foresight and Strategic Insights Unit (FSIU). This move is a significant step towards a proactive and resilient AANR sector.
The newly established unit will enhance DOST-PCAARRD’s strategic plans and R&D roadmaps by integrating strategic foresight and future thinking into its plans and operation. It will also strengthen the Council’s capacity to apply strategic foresight across priority areas through comprehensive foresight capacity building.
The United Nations Development Programme defined foresight as a systematic and participatory visioning process that enables present-day decisions to be mobilized through joint action. It promotes a proactive culture by allowing institutions to identify emerging technologies and research priorities that are more strategic and better prepared to address future opportunities, challenges, and concerns.
FSIU will function as a sub-unit under the Policy Analysis and Information Management Unit (PAIMU) of the Council’s Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD).
DOST-PCAARRD and its foresight initiatives
DOST-PCAARRD has been trailblazing in championing foresight in the AANR sector with the conduct of its first foresight exercise as part of its capacity development plan in 2008.
In 2021, the Council implemented the DOST-funded project, “Development and Institutionalization of DOST Foresight Framework and Protocol,” that capacitated 106 DOST personnel and established the DOST Foresight Core Team and Sectoral Foresight Technical Working Group. This initiative culminated in the development of the Foresight Resource Book, a tailored manual for conducting foresight within the organization.
Building on these gains, the Office of the Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services (OUSEC-STS), headed by Ms. Maridon M. Sahagun, tapped DOST-PCAARRD to implement the Congress-Introduced-Initiative-funded project, "Sustainable Development, Futures Thinking and Innovation Office: Enhancing the Foresight Capacity of DOST,” which was launched in 2023. The project trained an additional 79 DOST personnel and produced 7 foresight reports that covered science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem, climate change adaptation, emerging health technologies, sustainable communities, volcanology and seismology, R&D governance, and advanced technologies.
The Council’s commitment to forward foresight extends beyond internal initiatives. It supports various foresight-centered projects, including the PAGTANAW 2050, which produced the STI foresight document of the Philippines.
Influencing the Future
With the institutionalization of foresight, DOST-PCAARRD is poised to undergo a sectoral transformation that will impact daily operations, long-term planning, and future-proofing. This forward-thinking approach will enable the Council to become more agile, responsive, and proactive in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in the AANR sector. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to embed a foresight culture within the Council, promoting well-informed, proactive, and systematic S&T policy-making in the AANR sector.