NBSC AND UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL COLLABORATION THROUGH PROJECT KABILIN+
Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) and the University of Toronto’s Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR-Canada) convened an online meeting on November 7, 2025, to advance strategic plans and collaborative undertakings for Project KABILIN+: Kaabin sa Kinadaan, Kabuhat sa Kabilin (Project Heritage+: Partnerships in Tradition, Transforming Inheritance). The session brought together the Canadian research team, led by Dr. Azizur Rahman, and the NBSC project team, headed by Dr. Mary Koren Witting-Acuesa, Director of the Research, Development, and Innovation Division (RDID), and Mr. Melven I. Valmoria, Project Leader.
Project KABILIN+ aims to strengthen research, cultural preservation, and sustainable livelihood development by integrating science-based collaboration with indigenous knowledge systems. Focusing on local products from Bukidnon, the project also seeks to create equitable linkages between communities, industries, and academic institutions in the Philippines and Canada.
During the meeting, both teams finalized agreements in four major areas: Research and Development, Business Opportunities, Grants and Funding, and Future Engagements. A key discussion point was securing the necessary documentary and phytosanitary requirements for shipping agricultural samples – such as adlay, bell pepper, coffee, and honey – to Canada for advanced analysis.
The CCCR-Canada team committed to facilitating whole-genome sequencing, gene and protein analysis, and other scientific assessments to support product development and value enhancement. Furthermore, the teams plan to share authorship through joint publications of the research results.
This targeted collaboration significantly advances the college’s capacity to translate indigenous knowledge into globally recognized, science-backed solutions. By partnering with international experts for advanced analysis, NBSC is poised to drive sustainable innovation, create new livelihood opportunities for local communities, and solidify its position as a vital catalyst for impactful, community-centered development in the region.
