Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech co-hosts SAFE 2018; launches journal
by Bezt Gee S. Magararu (October 29, 2018)
PHilMech with the Pampanga State Agricultural University and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSAU) hosted the 6th International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Energy (SAFE 2018) at the I’M Hotel, Makati, Metro Manila on October 20, 2018.

During the conference, PHilMech launched the Asian Journal of Postharvest and Mechanization. PHilMech Director IV Baldwin G. Jallorina led the launch by giving copies to country representatives and SAFE Network key officials. Minister-Counselor Trini Gunarti for Social and Cultural Affairs of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and USec Ariel T. Cayanan, undersecretary for Operations and National Project Director of the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project graced the event.

USec Cayanan assured the SAFE Network that, “We (in the DA) are one with you (SAFE Network) in your noble mission of connecting and educating the people for a better economy, ecology, and equity in agriculture, food, and energy system.”

Cayanan further added, “We have the duty to produce enough food to feed but likewise it is our moral obligation to ensure that the ability of the future generation to feed themselves is not compromised.”

Minister-Counselor Gunarti as well applauded the event and emphasized, “You are all here… for a very good cause. Everyone is involved. No one is left behind.”

SAFE 2018 carried the theme: “Inclusive Agri-food Energy Production for Community Empowerment in a Changing Climate.” More than 325 participants from different countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines, participated in the conference, and among them, 301 presented their technical and plenary papers.

“This event aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas, explore various discussions, maintain existing connections, establish new connections and partnerships, and share the achievements of the work,” shared Dr. Novizar Nazir, executive chair and SAFE-Network coordinator.

The SAFE network is a collaborative group of academicians, researchers, and activists from the Asia Pacific who aims to connect and educate people by addressing major sustainability challenges in agriculture, food, and energy”.

“There is a great impact with working together towards the same direction amidst the diversity of background and ethnicities of SAFE members,” said Country Coordinator Dr. Norman G. de Jesus of CBSAU.

In the same event, Dr. Michael A. Gragasin received a Journal Publication Award that allows him to publish his paper in a Scopus-indexed journal, the International Journal of Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology (IJASEIT), with waved article publication fee worth USD 150.