NBSC, UPLB Lead Launching of Project MOCHA with the Canadian Embassy
On September 27, 2023, NBSC President Catherine Roween C. Almaden, PhD, together with UP Los Baรฑos Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension Nathaniel C. Bantayan, PhD, led the launching of ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐: ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ (๐ anagement ๐ผf ๐offee, ๐oney and ๐๐ฑ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ) “๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฃ’๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐จ” This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
The project launch was held at UPLBโs New Graduate School Building and was attended by the Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines, Hon. David B. Hartman; Trade Commissioner Ms. Angel Cachuela; Hon. Jose Manuel F. Alba, Congressman of the 1st District of Bukidnon; UP System Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo D.P. Cubillan; UP-Los Baรฑos Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.; and officials from the Philippines-Canada Network for Sustainability (PCNS) member institutions.
Delegates from Bukidnon in support of the project comprised Manolo Fortich Councilor Raquel Abales-Bayacag, Councilor Elzevir A. Dagunlay, Municipal Agriculturist Gemma Cania, NBSC Research Director Caroline Laarni Sereรฑas, and Charlene Bulahan-Undag.”
Project MOCHA’s main goal is to valorize or add value to selected indigenous food products from Bukidnon, particularly coffee, wild raw honey, and Adlai, while promoting sustainable agriculture. This project is one of the outcomes of the partnership between NBSC, UP-Los Baรฑos, and the Philippines-Canada Network for Sustainability (PCNS), a network of higher education institutions (HEIs) formed to engage in collaborative activities for sustainability. NBSC is one of the pioneer members of this network.
