The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) participated in the 2nd National Organic Agriculture Scientific Conference held from February 16 to 20, 2016 at the Visayas State University, Baybay City.
The conference, which had the theme, Go organic… for health, resiliency, and sustainability, was attended by organic agriculture practitioners, researchers, faculty, students, and other stakeholders from higher education institutions. It was organized by the Organic Agriculture Society of the Philippines (OASP).
“We encourage stakeholders from the government and private sectors to employ organic agriculture as a strategy to reduce poverty in the country and at the same time increase food production and quality,” said Arsenio G. Barcelona, President of OASP, Inc.
Senate Chair on Agriculture and Food Cynthia A. Villar served as the keynote speaker. According to her, it is imperative for all stakeholders in the agriculture industry to help boost the implementation of organic agriculture, which is a climate resilient farming system.
DOST-PCAARRD Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) Director Rodolfo O. Ilao provided the plenary presentation on science and technology (S&T) on organic agriculture and allied sectors program for the members of the National Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN).
Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, DOST-PCAARRD CRD Director also served as one of the evaluators during the paper presentation on researches on organic agriculture, together with University of the Philippines Open University Faculty of Management and Developmental Studies Noemi Tirona. Eleven scientific papers were presented during the conference.