THE Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) and Batangas State University (BatStateU) have partnered with the Philippine government-hosted, Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) to revitalize the agriculture sector in the country.
TAU and LSPU have formalized ties with Searca on areas of mutual interest such as education, research and training while BatStateU also agreed to cooperate in the same areas with special focus on innovative agricultural technologies, agribusiness incubation and technology transfer.
Under the partnership, a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Searca Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio, TAU President Dr. Max Guillermo, LSPU President Dr. Mario Briones and BatStateU President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo.
“Searca’s collaboration with agricultural universities is part of its strategy to harness academe-industry-government interconnectivity to revitalize the agriculture sector in the country,” Gregorio said.
He added that Searca, through its 11th Five-Year Plan (2020-2025) focused on Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation, or Attain, serves as gateway to the future of agricultural development
“This is attained by building open innovation and open science spaces that will serve as the venue for emerging trends and opportunities for agriculture and rural development in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region,” the Searca director explained.
For TAU, its Sustainable Mechanized Agriculture for Research and Technology (Smart) Agriculture Center implements climate-resilient crops production and educates learners and farmers on innovations in agriculture, food security and sustainability.
“The [Smart Agriculture] Center aims to carry out its mission of fostering the implementation of smart agriculture in many ways. It will be a platform for forging interdisciplinary research collaborations across disciplines, both within and outside TAU,” Guillermo said.
For LSPU, its Technology Business Incubation for Agri-Fishery and Natural Products serves as a center for nurturing business start-ups in agricultural, aquatic and natural resources-based techno-enterprise.
Dr. Rico Ancog, Searca program lead for Emerging Innovation for Growth (EIG), made a presentation on “Agriculture 4.0 Innovations for Higher Education Institutions” to 107 LSPU officials, faculty and researchers who convened within days of the MoU signing between Searca and the university.
Meanwhile, BatStateU has a Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation and the first Knowledge Innovation and Science Technology (KIST) Park registered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
Ronquillo said KIST Park is a prime destination fostering collaboration between universities, industry players, locator companies and tech startups including agricultural entrepreneurs.
Also a University of the Philippines Los Baños-School of Environmental Science and Management associate professor, Ancog said BatStateU, with its motto “Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives,” is the ideal partner that Searca is looking for in their academe-industry-government model.
“We look forward to operationalize the Searca innovEIGhts Model fueled by our partnership,” he said, adding the model will support, facilitate and implement co-created and co-piloted agribusiness incubation, information and technology transfer projects, and impact- and action-driven extension and technical assistance engagement for Southeast Asia.
According to Ancog, innovEIGhts components consist of Index for gap analysis and best practices benchmark, Serves to provide farmer advisory support for innovation, iDEATES to come up with practical and technical solutions, Blocks for rapid prototyping of inclusive technology, A4LIFE to build an agribusiness incubation network, and Space to be the platform for open innovative collaboration.
In the coming years, Gregorio said Searca intends to facilitate the partnering up of players and actors of the innovation community in the Philippines and other Asean countries.
He said these players and actors include incubator houses, venture capital funders, universities and other research institutions as well as startups, small and medium enterprises and corporations.