THE Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) and Batangas State University (BatStateU) have recently partnered with the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
TAU and LSPU have formalized ties with SEARCA on areas of mutual interest such as education, research and training while BatStateU 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 memoranda of understanding (MoU) was signed by Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director; Max Guillermo, TAU president; Mario R. Briones, LSPU president; and Tirso Ronquillo, BatStateU president.
“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 said 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 (SEA) region, he added.
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 LPSU, 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.
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 the KIST Park is a prime destination fostering collaboration between universities, industry players, locator companies and tech startups including agricultural entrepreneurs.
“We look forward to operationalize the SEARCA innovEIGhts Model fueled by our partnership,” Ancog said.
The 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.