TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Luzon Cluster, recently conducted the 2024 Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting in the NGN Gran Hotel, Tuguegarao City, as part of its 46th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).

The theme for this year is “Beyond Farm Productivity: Transforming the Philippine Food System to Address Equity, Consumer Health, and Environmental Issues.”

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said that the 2-day event aimed to shed light on the importance of transforming the Philippine food system beyond just farm productivity and focused on improving the lives of farmers and fishermen while promoting consumer health and environmental protection.

“We will discuss how we will empower consumers to help transform our food system into data- and value-driven food choices facilitated by modern technology. We believe that with delighted food choices, consumers have the power to trigger food transformation,” Solidum said in a recorded message.

The event was also an opportunity for policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders to come together and discuss how to improve the Philippine food system, according to Solidum.

“We would craft resolutions that will advocate policies and programs for transforming our food system,” Solidum added.

The plenary sessions featured experts exploring how advancements in space and industry can revolutionize Philippine agriculture; how digital technology can be harnessed to create a more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive food system in the Philippines; and how sustainable production and responsible consumption practices can contribute to food security in the Philippines.

Assistant Secretary Ana Carmela Ventura-Remigio of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Northern Luzon, during the press conference, said that food security is the top priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Food security is the top priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. For almost two years of the administration of the President, he has carried out several initiatives to realize food security, and one of his thrusts is consolidating farmers’ cooperatives and associations and introducing new technologies to Filipino farmers,” said Remigio.

For his part, NAST PHL president Jaime Montoya said they support DOST’s vision of a progressive Philippines anchored on science.

“We aim to develop science-based policy recommendations to address the different branches of government. In this year’s regional scientific meeting, we will delve beyond farm production. This year’s theme motivates the need to decentralize mechanisms implemented in the status quo to improve farm productivity and achieve agricultural and rural development,” Montoya said.

Meanwhile, participating higher education institutions, research centers, and government agencies competed in the annual scientific poster session, which highlighted the latest regional research and development outputs on the Philippine food development system.

The University of the Philippines Los Baños’ research on "Health-Promoting Properties and Consumer Acceptability of Novel Vinegar-Based Beverage from Selected Philippine Indigenous Fruits" won the Best Scientific Poster award. The team is composed of Dr. Rona Camille M. Lizardo-Agustin, Dr. Katherine Ann T. Castillo-Israel, and students Alithea Q. Jumawan, Vince Ellison P. Leyeza, Vanessa P. Cruzat, Precious O. Papa, and Marie Antoniette E. Fauni.

Urdaneta City University’s research on ‘WATTACROP: A Mobile-Based Crop Management with Plant Disease Detection using Mobile Vision’ and ‘Spatio-Temporal Distribution on Insect Pests in Rice Paddy Fields with Regards to Climate Change’ placed second and third, respectively. (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)