SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ – The Central Luzon State University, a prime government-run agricultural learning institution here, rolls out a two-year technology and innovation program through a P15.4-million grant from the Commission on Higher Education next month.
Called e-FARM (engaging Food and Agriculture Resources Management) Academy, the program is launched “to bring technology and innovations to a larger and diverse audience such as students, life-long tourist learners, farmers, local government units and P/FHEIs (Philippine/Foreign Higher Education Institutions),” said Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, in a statement on Friday.
Milla, OIC of the Office of Deputy Executive Director and for International Affairs of CHED, said CLSU was “encouraged to realize this program as its formidable implementation of agri-aqua research and development activities may open doors for more international collaborations.”
With the grant, CHED develops educational modules using different modalities and media to promote matured generated technologies that are ready for transfer and commercialization, the statement explained.
CLSU president Dr. Edgar A. Orden, for his part said: “The eFARM Academy envisions being an engaging platform that will support the positioning of the University as a premier international techno education tourism hub for agri-fishery.”
He also emphasized that the program will be capacitating the stakeholders on agri-fishery technologies, food security, and food business through actual and virtual learning modes.
According to Dr. Gella Patria L. Abella, program lead, the eFARM Academy Program has three (3) components namely: eFARM GROW (Generate. Reap. Opportunity. Wealth); eFARM KITCHEN (Knowledge, Innovations, Technology, Culinary Know-How and Product Enhancement); and eFARM Academy (online learning).
With these components, the developed food and agriculture technologies will be showcased, and the products of which will be made available for consumption. They will be shared through on-site visits, transformative digital platforms (virtual classrooms), and live streaming via Radyo CLSU to reach the target beneficiaries.
The commodities included for product development and culinary arts are expected to highlight the Philippine culture. The eFARM team is composed of faculty members with diverse specializations to operationalize the program in a very holistic manner. The program lead convened the project heads and project staff on August 18, 2021, to level off and set the direction, according to the report from CLSU.
