Advancing Philippine Agriculture: AgCultivate 2025 Highlights Project MOCHA– Pioneering Project for Sustainable Agriculture of PCNS
Makati City, Philippines, February 24-25, 2025 – NBSC’s and UPLB’s Project MOCHA, an initiative of the Philippines-Canada Network for Sustainability (PCNS), took center stage at AgCultivate 2025, a two-day conference dedicated to advancing Philippine agriculture with the theme: Addressing Agriculture Sector Challenges through Cooperation in Industry and Academia between Canada and the Philippines. Organized by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO), the event convened industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders from both countries.
Project MOCHA, a pioneering effort aimed at empowering farmers through sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices, took the spotlight. It is the first successful project since PCNS was founded in January 2023. The Project team from Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) and UPLB, together with farmer-beneficiaries from Bukidnon and LGU Manolo Fortich MAO Personnel, proudly presented the project’s impact and potential for expansion.
During the conference, Project leader Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden and Municipal Agriculturist Gemma Cania shared success stories on integrating sustainable farming techniques, community-driven initiatives, market strategies, and innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges of Bukidnon’s agricultural sector. Representatives from the farmer-beneficiaries – Epifania M. Gairan, Michael C. Iba, and Arcelo Sulatan – who attended the event also offered firsthand insights and stories on how the project has transformed their practices, improving productivity, market integration, and environmental sustainability.
AgCultivate 2025 also featured dynamic panel discussions on food security, agricultural production efficiency, research and innovation, and private sector engagement. Project MOCHA’s inclusion in the event highlighted its role as a model for bridging academic research and real-world agricultural solutions. The Project is an initiative and a result of careful planning and execution to produce the desired outcomes to respond to the challenges in the agricultural sector in Bukidnon. It was conceptualized through the brilliant minds of its project leaders, the then NBSC President, Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden, and UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan, and was equally supported by NBSC’s incumbent College President, Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, of which, under their leadership, the project has created ripples of impact to the community and the environment.
As the event concluded, Project MOCHA solidified its position as a crucial component of the Philippines-Canada agricultural collaboration, opening doors for further research opportunities, funding support, and policy integration. The project aims to expand its reach and implement more initiatives that will create lasting benefits for farming communities in Bukidnon and beyond.
