31 January 2021 Version

1st INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL CONGRESS & 2021 PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURISTS’ SUMMIT

Theme, “Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce for AG 4.0 Amidst Disruptions: A Framework for Action”
February 18,19,20, 2021

Program
18 FEBRUARY 2021 (THURSDAY)
Virtual Emcees: Mr. Ramon A. Oliveros and Dr. Melvin B. Carlos

07:45 AM–08:00 AM VIRTUAL INGRESS

08:00 AM–05:00 PM ONLINE REGISTRATION

09:00 AM–12:00 NN SIMULTANEOUS VIRTUAL MEETINGS OF REGIONAL CHAPTERS

(Online Meeting Links will be provided by the Regional Chapter Presidents)

01:00 PM–02:00 PM PRE-CONGRESS WEBINARS

Integrated Urban Agriculture at the MR. EARWIN A. BELEN

National Capital Region: Chapter President
Role of Licensed Agriculturists National Capital Region
Philippine Association of Agriculturists

eKadiwa and Other Digital Ag Initiatives: MR. DENNIS M. LAYUG

A New Normal in Philippine Senior Adviser on IT and Farm Digitalization
Agripreneurship Department of Agriculture

02:00 PM-05:00 PM PARALLEL POSTER PAPER VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS (A)

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19 FEBRUARY 2021 (FRIDAY)

Virtual Emcees: Mr. Emmanuel P. Lopez-Dee and Dr. Jessica D. Rey

07:00 AM – 08:00 AM ONLINE REGISTRATION

08:00 AM – 10:00 AM OPENING CEREMONIES

Virtual Parade of PAA Regional Chapters and ANPOs

Ecumenical Prayer
National Anthem

Opening Message DR. ROBERTO F. RAÑOLA, JR.

Chair, Board of Trustees

Introduction of Keynote Speaker DR. ROSALINA M. LAPITAN

Immediate Past National President

Keynote Address
The Scientific Career System: Advancing Scientific and Technological Development in Agriculture

DIRECTOR LUNINGNING E. SAMARITA-DOMINGO

National Academy of Science and Technology
Republic of the Philippines

10:00 AM – 12:00NN SESSION 1 “Human and Organizational-Level Capabilities Needed in Agriculture for the Future”
Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Evelyn A. Esquejo, Past President, PAA National
Co- Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Anastacia G. Notarte, PAA Mindanao Island Representative

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Human Capabilities for AG 4.0 Adoption: MR. JIM LEANDRO P. CANO

Lead Digital Agriculturist, 8Layer Technologies Inc.
Country Representative, YPARD Philippines
Chair, Youth Alliance for Zero Hunger
Member, 16th High Level Panel of Experts, UN
Committee on World Food Security

Organizational-Level Capabilities for AG 4.0 Adoption MR. DENNIS M. LAYUG

Senior Adviser on IT and Farm Digitalization
Department of Agriculture

01:00 PM – 02:00 PM PARALLEL POSTER PAPER VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS (B)

02:00 PM – 06:00 PM SESSION 2 “Forward-Looking Approaches to Address the Needed Human Capabilities in
Agriculture for the Future”
Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Michael T. Ibisate, PAA Region 6 President
Co- Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Purificacion Cahatian, PAA Region 12 President

The Future of Education: DR. RAMON C. BACANI

21st Century Learning in Southeast Asia Director, SEAMEO Regional Center for Educational
Innovation and Technology

ASEAN 4.0/Industry 4.0: Skills Development DIRECTOR IMELDA B. TAGANAS

Strategies of Businesses and Industries Executive Director
in Agriculture Qualifications and Standards Office (QSO)
Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority

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Environmental Education for MR. JONJON SARMIENTO

Biodiversity Conservation General Manager, SALIKA
Former Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager,
PAKISAMA

Enhancing Human Resource Development DR. GLENN B. GREGORIO

In Agriculture Chair, Technical Panel for Agriculture, CHED
Director, Southeast Asian Regional Center for
Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture

20 FEBRUARY 2021 (SATURDAY)

Virtual Emcees: Mr. Emmanuel P. Lopez-Dee and Dr. Jessica D. Rey

07:00 AM – 08:00 AM ONLINE REGISTRATION

08:00 AM – 09:00 AM PARALLEL POSTER PAPER VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS (C)

09:00 AM – 12:00 NN SESSION 3 “Securing A World-Class Workforce for AG 4.0”

Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Norman G. De Jesus, PAA Luzon Island Representative
Co- Q&A Facilitator: Dr. Virgilio A. Jakosalem, PAA Visayas Islands Representative

Smart Classrooms and Future Smart Schools : MR. ERWIN A. LIZARONDO

A Panel Discussion on Learning Head Mentor for Youthworks PH
Communities in Virtual Business Incubation Philippine Business for Education, USAID Project
Program Manager, TIP Nitro
Technology Institute of the Philippines

MR. FAISAL M. ALIH

Director, Program Development and Partnerships
Academy of Entrepreneurs, Australia

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Smart Farming Systems (SFS): MR. EARWIN A. BELEN

A Panel Discussion on IoT-based Application Chapter President
in Farming and Farm Enterprises National Capital Region
Philippine Association of Agriculturists

Leapfrogging to Education 4.0 MS. PAULA MILLS

Founder & CEO
Academy of Entrepreneurs, Australia

01:00 PM – 04:00 PM SESSION 4 “Forum with the Secretary of Agriculture on Developing Human Resources for AG 4.0”
Q&A Facilitator: Carlota Madriaga, PAA Region 10 President
Co- Q&A Facilitator: Ruben Santos, PAA Region 2 President

Progress of the Technical Assistance Program DR. ROBERTO F. RAÑOLA, JR.

to the Department of Agriculture Chair, Board of Trustees

Message from the Guest of Honor: DR. WILLIAM D. DAR

Forward-Looking initiatives Secretary
Department of Agriculture
Open Forum

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04:00 PM – 05:00 PM CONCLUDING SESSION AND CLOSING CEREMONIES

Awards for Best Poster Papers DR. ROSALINA M. LAPITAN

Immediate Past National President

Congress Declaration DR. ARTEMIO A. MARTIN, JR.

National Vice President

Closing Message DR. LOUIE A. DIVINAGRACIA

National President and Congress Chair

05:00 PM – 05:15 PM VIRTUAL EGRESS

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ABSTRACTS

Theme: Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce for AG 4.0 Amidst Disruptions: A Framework for Action

While many young people are unemployed or underemployed, many employers have difficulty filling in these jobs. This challenge is partly due to
the growing mismatch between youths’ skills and the requirements of the employers. This problem if not addressed will be exacerbated during
the pandemic and onto the next new normal as the AG 4.0, that combines physical assets and digital technologies, will require skill sets that are
vastly different than what are being provided now. This will worsen the growing gap between those who are prepared and not prepared. For
the young people between the ages of 15 and 29, this revolution will significantly shape their roles as the future workers, consumers, and
competitors. What present initiatives are being taken by both formal and non-formal education in building the needed competencies for AG 4.0
onto the next new normal? What are the people-centered innovation processes that can sustainably bridge the gap to knowledge access and
capacity development for vulnerable groups in agriculture? How can the business community contribute to the development and growth of the
future workforce in agriculture? How can the academe and the business sector work together in preparing the workforce of tomorrow?

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Session 1.“Human and Organizational-Level Capabilities Needed in Agriculture for the Future”

The transition towards AG 4.0 highlights one of the more significant changes in the human capabilities that are needed in agriculture for the
future. Moreover, businesses and other organizations operating in the global agriculture value chain are experiencing workplace practice
changes as digital technologies are being integrated. Moreover, value chains are evolving into networks. Thus, governments, academic
institutions, industry players, and other stakeholders need to take a joint systematic approach to determine the needed human capabilities as
well as proactive approaches to meet these needs. These identified set of capabilities will empower tomorrow’s workforce to perform in an era
of digitally-enabled operations. The interdependence of systems and humans is a key feature of AG 4.0. Will tomorrow’s workforce need to
know and understand artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud-based and mobile-enabled applications to competently do their jobs? What
lies at the frontiers of human-robot collaboration (or cobotics)? What human and organizational capabilities are essential to sustainability
generate and deliver value creation through digitization?

A. Human Capabilities for AG 4.0 Adoption

Farm enterprises, farmers’ cooperatives, agribusinesses and other organizations can commence the identification of human
capabilities needed for AG 4.0 adoption by utilizing the following Industry 4.0 concepts, (a) information transparency; (b)
interoperability; (c) decentralized decision making; and (d) technical assistance provided by automation and robots. Farmers and the
workforce must be provided the tools for total workforce engagement and advanced analytics. They must be empowered to
generate, process, and access the right business information across any device; and through a dramatically-simplified user
experience. How can these Industry 4.0 concepts be operationalized in the agriculture value chain and network? At which stages of
AG 4.0 transformation will these concepts be evident? Which ones will continue to develop and emerge through time? What are the
challenges for farmers and family businesses?

B. Organizational-Level Capabilities for AG 4.0 Adoption

While some features of AG 4.0 may still be in the evolutionary stage among emerging countries in Southeast Asia such as the
Philippines, there are certain components that are already present at various levels of development. These include, among others,
the following, (a) integration of additive manufacturing in the forward and backward stages of the agriculture value chain; (b)
introduction of advanced analytics systems especially among the lead businesses in the chain; (c) increasing access to and
dissemination of real-time data for Precision Agriculture and Smart Farming Systems; (d) strategic collaboration between
agribusinesses and ICT providers such as the shift towards digital supply networks; (e) incorporation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in
farms and off-farm agribusinesses; and (f) growing reliance in Cloud technology as farms and agribusinesses are needing faster
access, processing, and dissemination of business information between and among themselves along the value chain. What are the
minimum organizational-level capabilities that are needed for AG 4.0 adoption? What new partnership arrangements between
farmers and agribusinesses will evolve as the agriculture value chain adopts AG 4.0? What capabilities are needed to manage these
new partnership arrangements?

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Session 2. “Forward-Looking Approaches to Address the Needed Human Capabilities in Agriculture for the Future”

AG 4.0 can potentially change the business-as-usual approach in doing business in the agriculture sector. These changes can require new human
capabilities. Thus, educational institutions and other educational service providers are expected to pursue forward-looking approaches to
address the needed human capabilities in agriculture for the future. Technology and the expansion of human capabilities are intimately related.
Life-skills education has gradually come to be observed as a comprehensive approach to education. What other aspects of capability-
development initiatives can be combined with life-skills education to address the needed human capabilities in agriculture for the future?

A. The Future of Education: 21st Century Learning in Southeast Asia

Education authorities in Southeast Asia have highlighted the strategic role of 21 st Century Skills in their education plans and policy
directions. Critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and creativity are skills that are needed to succeed in digitally-transformed
workplaces and workspaces. An approach that is currently pursued in Southeast Asia is the integrated STEM. This approach can be
described as the seamless amalgamation of the content and concepts from multiple STEM disciplines (e.g. science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics). It uses SEADSTEM – a digital platform that is based on a philosophy that is geared primarily on
solving problems from a multifaceted and interdisciplinary perspective. How are teachers trained to adopt integrated STEM? How
effective is this approach in addressing the needed human capabilities in agriculture for the future? What resources are needed by
educational institutions to use SEADSTEM?

B. ASEAN 4.0/Industry 4.0: Skills Development Strategies of Businesses and Industries in Agriculture
From the perspective of ASEAN, there is a need to explore and determine strategies to reskill and upskill the region’s workforce to
make ASEAN fit for Industry 4.0 and AG 4.0. Industry 4.0 and AG 4.0 are expected to significantly transform the economies and
societies of ASEAN, Thus, the labor markets in the region are expected to prepare for skills development strategies within the
context of digital technology adoption to proactively address the reskill and upskill challenges. How are businesses and industries in
ASEAN currently investing in skills training for the future? What best practices can be adopted by businesses and industries in
agriculture in the country? What skills development strategies can be jointly pursued by industry-academe-government
partnerships? What is the progress of the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2018-2022 for Agriculture?

C. Environmental Education for Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity conservation is an important goal of education for sustainable agriculture development. A major focus of environmental
education was to create the knowledge, interest and necessary skills of learners to solve various biodiversity problems. How can
environmental education address the needed human capabilities in agriculture for the future?

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D. Enhancing Human Resource Development in Agriculture

More than a decade ago, it was observed and reported that the workforce in agriculture can be broadly divided into four major
groups, namely, those currently employed in the sector, self-employed individuals or those working on farms, new entrants in the
agriculture workforce, and those who are transitioning from one job to another within the sector. Each of these workforce segments
can be served using (a) in‐service training and development, (b) non‐formal extension and extension‐type educational programs, and
(c) formal school curricula in higher education. What other workforce groups are emerging under AG 4.0? To what extent can these
educational services be used to to address the needed human capabilities in agriculture for the future? What other innovative
educational services can be offered?

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Session 3. “Securing A World-Class Workforce for AG 4.0”

Recent technological innovations are transforming the education landscape in the world as workplaces and workspaces are demanding a more
competency-based learning model than a fixed learning structure. Likewise, younger learners are demanding greater flexibility and
customization, and making personalized learning the preferred learning path. Digital technologies are also transforming learning facilities from
conventional classrooms to Smart Classrooms and Smart Schools. The dawning of the 4 th Industrial Revolution has introduced Smart Farming
Systems that are supported the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, drones, augmented reality, and virtual reality,
among others. What must be done to secure a world-class workforce amidst these transformations? What are the implications of AG 4.0 in the
agriculture sector in terms of securing a world-class workforce? How can these technological advancements be utilized to provide the platform
to reach the new generation of learners in the agriculture sector through various channels?

A. Smart Classrooms and Future Smart Schools: A Panel Discussion on Learning Communities in Virtual Business Incubation
Smart Classrooms are ushering 21st century education systems to teachers and learners. These educational facilities are features of
the future Smart Schools that are designed to seamlessly integrate smart interactive boards or flat panels and hand-held mobile
learning devices with digital library resources, M-learning platforms, laboratories that can facilitate virtual experiments and
simulations, presentation equipment, cameras, and other education-related applications that are supported by ICT-driven
mechanisms. The fully digital and interactive learning environments of the future are designed for learners of all ages who are
pursuing formal and non-formal education. How can Smart Classrooms and the future Smart Schools be brought closer to start-ups
needing virtual business incubation? How can teachers and learners who are engaged in entrepreneurship education be prepared to
use facilities with digital and interactive learning environments? What are its prospects for entrepreneurs in food and agri-
industries?

B. Smart Farming Systems: A Panel Discussion on IoT-based Application in Farming and Farm Enterprises
Smart Farming Systems (SFS) cover the entire operations process from farm inputs to table that use digital technologies. If managed
properly, it is capable of significantly reducing overall costs; improving overall yield and quality of the supply of agricultural produce;
and ultimately, enhancing the experience for the consumers. The mechanism behind SFS is a package of Internet of Things (IoT)-
based application development platforms that gather and consolidate data from external satellite and terrestrial systems, among
others, and from sensors located on the farm; and disseminate these in real-time to decision-makers. As a result, decisions are made
with greater precision. From a value chain perspective, farmers and other players in the agriculture value chain and networks will
eventually have unified access to business data from a value-chain database; and using a common communication protocol for a
more coordinated decision-making process. How can farmers and other value-chain and network players be empowered by big data,
the utilization of data analytics, and open digital collaboration? What capacity development approaches must be done to secure a
word-class workforce for AG 4.0 through SFS?

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C. Leapfrogging to Education 4.0

Education 4.0 is about preparing a world-class workforce for future leadership positions in a globalized knowledge society.
Educational institutions that are involved in the delivery of basic education, technical education and skills development education,
and higher education programs are expected to adopt Education 4.0 technologies and processes at a much faster pace than it did
more than five decades ago. These include those that cater to the needs of the workforce that are in the agriculture sector. Global
trends in policy and regulatory changes are currently being directed towards the delivery of hybrid and mobile learning as the needs
of industry and society are evolving rapidly. Likewise, an array of educational technologies is unfolding. These are driven by
innovations in ICT, bio-sciences, and engineering. Likewise, emerging workplace competencies and skill requirements require a
departure from a fixed learning system to a relative more flexible system that empowers learners to progress at their own pace with
greater autonomy. How can educational institutions in the agriculture sector leapfrog to Education 4.0? What can be done to move
from a fixed learning or a relative more flexible system? What are the best practices?

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