The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) urged Filipino farmers to become innovative agricultural entrepreneurs.
SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said that based on the dynamics of agriculture in Southeast Asia, he is advocating for a shift from traditional practices to systemic and integrated innovations, and "urging Filipino farmers to become more innovative agricultural entrepreneurs."
He also noted how the ever-changing agricultural landscape caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution led to a paradigm shift in agricultural education.
"In the future, there will be a greater emphasis on training students in using advanced technologies, such as precision agriculture systems, drones, robotics and data analytics focusing on optimizing crop yields, predicting weather patterns, and managing pests and diseases," Gregorio explained.
He added that these technologies can help farmers increase crop yields, reduce waste and labor, and improve profitability.
Gregorio said students must be adept in applying sustainable farming practices and be aware of consumer trends.
"They must understand environmental issues like climate change, soil erosion and water usage, and learn how to implement solutions to combat these problems," he said.
Gregorio emphasized those pointers in his keynote address during the 1st International Conference on Agricultural Sciences and Technology (ICAST) 2024 held from March 13-15, 2024 at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Angeles City.
ICAST 2024 was spearheaded by the Philippine Association of Agriculturists in Region 3-Tamarind Chapter and the Pampanga Agricultural State University under the guidance of their presidents, Hermogenes Paguia and Anita David, respectively.
Anchored on the theme "Digitally Sustaining Our Future: Exploring the Application of Emerging Technologies for Food Security and Sustainability," SEARCA, along with the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities and the Sustainable Agriculture Food and Energy or Safe Network, served as conference co-organizers.
The conference showcased productive discussions and exchanges on the benefits of smart farming technologies and innovations, circular economy, agribusiness, and agricultural extension and development.
During the event, Gregorio introduced SEARCA's initiatives to promote technology adoption, including the Innovation Olympics 2.0, an agri hackathon, where young innovators developed solutions to the challenges faced by urban and rural smallholder vegetable farmers.