Press and News DOST signs MOU with Alliance Bioversity and CIAT to bolster science, technology, and innovation for agriculture development and food security

The new Understanding reaffirms both institutions' commitment to accelerate an evidence-informed approach in addressing the interconnected crises in climate change, food security, malnutrition, and biodiversity loss by aligning the Alliance’s research agenda with the Department’s key priorities in agriculture and food systems transformation. The DOST and the Alliance look forward to implement joint initiatives through possible collaborative research and development, capacity building activities, exchange of experts and scientists for research studies, and holding of joint conferences, symposia, and workshops.  

In its two-day visit in the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Palmira, the DOST delegation led by DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. met with the Alliance’s Managing Director for the Americas and CIAT’s Director General Joseph Tohme and Alliance Associate Director General, Research Strategy, and Innovation Marcela Quintero as well as several leaders across the center’s various programs in biotechnology, climate action, genebank, cassava, rice, and tropical forages, among others. The Palmira campus hosts the Alliance’s groundbreaking genebank, Future Seeds, which enables data-driven deployment and conservation of crop diversity through genomics, digital phenotyping, and information technologies. 

“At the core of it all, all we want is a better future for our people and the environment. In line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, we wish to contribute significantly to SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. And this is what we envision our partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT to revolve around,” DOST Sec. Solidum said. 

The Secretary is joined by DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico C. Paringit, DOST-FNRI Director and Scientist Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, and Project Technical Specialist Karen Lou S. Mabagos.