Searca head pushes for culture of agri-innovation

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) head reaffirmed the need to build a culture of agri-innovation among the Filipino youth.

Speaking at the sixth session of the Webinar Series on Nanotechnology titled “Empowering Young Filipino Researchers for an Emerging Technology Ready Philippines,” Searca Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio emphasized the innovations for transformational change and how to reinforce a transformed agricultural food system in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, said a Searca news release.

Gregorio told the webinar organized by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) on January 20 that inclusive social service and protection schemes to all sectors, especially the women and youth; innovative new sourcing of funding and financing; and new policies on innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship are needed for policy innovation.

“S&T [Science and technology] for social innovations to scale wider and faster, use of digital technology platforms for business models, and IT [information technology]based education and collective learning are needed in technology innovation,” said Gregorio, an Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines.

He added that social innovation will come with public and private sector players adopting new ideas, strategies and practices to better meet social needs.

Gregorio also discussed policy recommendations to sustain the growing interest in agriculture among young people and to promote and generate more agripreneurs.

“We must encourage full participation, particularly among the youth and women, through a number of systematic education and mentorship programs with sustained incentives and innovative training modalities with social safety net systems,” he pointed out. The Searca director also expressed that young researchers must get themselves involved in more public value-driven research initiatives that are geared towards strengthening the welfare of their stakeholders.

He pointed out that the key to communicate the plight of farmers from the nano or micro level of poverty to the policymakers is to strengthen the agricultural extension system of countries and conduct integrative studies exploring how to capacitate local government units and agencies, the news release said.

“Inventions happen in universities or higher education institutions. Partnering with the industry and commercializing these is where innovation happens. Thus, innovation is the way of transferring research results into profits for economic, environmental, and social gains. In the end, let us all remember that what matters the most is building relationships,” Gregorio said.

The webinar series was part of Nanohubs, PCIEERD’s platform for nano-research and development, nano-education, and nanoentrepreneurship. PCIEERD is one of the three sectoral planning councils of DOST.

DOST-R02 to strengthen smart, sustainable initiatives in Cagayan Valley

THE contribution of science technology and innovation (STI) has been proven to be essential in the development of the country.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 02 has displayed firmly its accomplishments in STI in the S&T ecosystem and in the spirit of resilience in the entire Cagayan Valley. The agency’s competencies were shown in many aspects of government service.

Moreover, the leadership and management of DOST-R02 have formed the backbone of various improvements and strategies. This include in providing a unity of purpose, while also establishing the direction of the organization through its programs, projects and activities.

Now, with the DOST’s new battle cry, One DOST4U, the DOST-R02 will continue to advocate the utilization and transfer of available technologies from the research and development institutions down to the local government units, communities and industries.

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02 in front of their headquarters in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan. DOST-R02 PHOTO embracing the importance of unleashing creativity through Innovations and having the ability to respond rapidly and effectively in any circumstances.

Furthermore, DOST-R02 with its mandate, will continue to provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological efforts in and communities in the country. This proved that DOST-R02 is the leading STI hub in Cagayan Valley and beyond. As the country moves forward to the next level of S&T landscape, DOST-R02 will find and encounter even more enormous ideas that can help characterize the massive use of emerging technologies.