November 16, 2023 - SHGBEE delegates took part in an engaging session of sharing novel research findings, initiatives, experiences, and best practices related to school, home, and community gardens, as well as its contributions to biodiversity enhancement and enterprise development in the Southeast Asian region and beyond. With the theme, “Nurturing Healthy, Biodiverse and Entrepreneurial Communities,” the last two days of the week-long conference was held at the Zaycoland Resort and Hotel, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Dr. Aladino Moraca, CPSU president, welcomed all the participants and expressed how, hosting this year’s SHGBEE, responds to the endeavor of CPSU towards internationalization which aimed to reach out to like-minded practitioners and professionals in various fields and learn from each other’s innovative practices.
Hon. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, governor of the Province of Negros Occidental, as represented by Ma. Elena San Jose, PEMO TSS division head, also gave his message of commendations to CPSU with SEARCA and Kansas State University in the pursuit of nurturing biodiversity, more specifically in the development of the local community to be more sustainable. He also highlighted how the said conference has paved more pathways to the protection and preservation of local biodiversity.
Vice-mayor Miguel “Migz” Zayco who also spoke on behalf of Kabankalan City Mayor Hon. Benjie Miranda, stated how the international event gave honor and pride to the City.
“Hosting this 2nd international conference through CPSU headed by President Moraca is our honor and privilege. In the city’s endeavor of maximizing our agricultural economy, we are very glad we have CPSU in our City, which is a pioneer in pushing for organic agriculture to be integrated to the day-to-day lives of our people… Together, we work towards educating and introducing organic food to the community and how everyone can benefit from it. The City’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Food committee also promotes programs that ensure agricultural balance and food security to all Kabankalanons,” Vice-mayor Zayco said.
Likewise, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director, as represented by Dr. Nur Azura Adam, deputy director for programs of SEARCA ,also congratulated everyone for being part of the conference and for engaging fully in the program.
“Development happens when community, industry and the local government work together to create bigger, better and smarter outputs. With the meaningful and engaging interactions we have, may we also look for opportunities to collaborate with each other, and learn from one another, not only in the local sphere but all over ASIA, and even beyond,” Dr. Adam stated.
Dr. Manual “Manny” Reyes, research professor and Agroecological engineer, Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) coordinator, CE SAIN Cambodia, and representative of Kansas State University, also expressed his immense gratefulness in the realization of the conference as it gathered and united countries and communities all for one goal, Biodiversity enhancement.
“I am so happy because we are very focused on helping our farmers. We will reach out to farmers, which will be meaningful actions so that they can feel the results of this conference. The student-attendants as our future entrepreneurs and workforce, are the ‘Pearls of the Orient’. Know that there is future in agriculture, invest in your own province, and help it prosper. And with DepEd in this partnership, it can be multiplied throughout the corners of the Province. A transformation will take place as it is very essential in the community of educators for organic agriculture and biodiversity,” Dr. Reyes explained.
After the giving of certificates to the guest speakers, partners and collaborators, Dr. Angelie Rose Lumba, CPSU Director for Research and Development, and the lead facilitator in hosting the 2nd SHGBEE conference acknowledged all the delegates coming from various regions in the Philippines as well as the partner agencies and gave a brief recap during the Mobiles Workshops that transpired during the 1st and 2nd day of the conference held at Tabugon Farm School, Tabugon National High School, Kabankalan City, the CPSU project sites, and in Danjugan Island, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. PV Vara Prasad, professor of Crop Ecophysiology, and director for the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, who spoke on the significance of SHGBEE and Sustainable Intensification.
During the Plenary Session, Mr. Danny Hunter, Senior Scientist, Alliance of Biodiversity International CIAT also shared practices and innovative programs on Biodiversity Enhancement and Agriculture.
A Special Session also took place which delved into the beneficiality and sustainability of the Go Native Philippines App by renowned speakers, Mr. Swetank Shekhar, the CEO of Go Native International, Dr. Manny Reyes of Kansas State U, Lorna Reyes, Software Engineer, SAS, and Al Linsangan, Grassroots Enterprise.
Parallel sessions followed based on the identified thematic areas, Advancing People and Planet Health through Sustainable Agri-Enterprises, Biodiversity Enhancement and Agriculture, Promoting Food and Nutrition Security, and Harnessing Collective Action for SHGBEE.
This international conference indeed served as a platform for sharing and discussing impact stories, strategies, issues, and challenges related to nurturing healthy, biodiverse, and entrepreneurial communities. The endeavor is also considered an opportune entry point for schoolchildren, the youth, and local communities to be mindful of their food and nutrition while being engaged in biodiversity restoration and protection, and while harvesting economic benefits from livelihood generation. With the collective transformative mindset and synergy of the collaborating agencies, the attainment of food and nutrition security is always within reach.
- J. Emoy | The Cenphilian
- Photos: J. Romero