Coming from 22 countries, over 400 delegates are expected to participate in the 2nd International Conference on Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD2014) in the Philippines on November 12-13.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is organizing the event with the theme “Strengthening Resilience, Equity, and Integration in ASEAN Food and Agriculture Systems.”
Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., SEARCA director, will open the conference followed by the keynote address of President Benigno S. Aquino III to be delivered by Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, the agency said.
Sixty-five leaders and experts from Southeast Asia as well as eight top agricultural scientists and economists from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam will also speak at the conference’s plenary sessions.
ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which comprises of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
One of the many co-sponsors with SEARCA is the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).