The Agricultural Systems Institute (ASI) held a webinar with the theme “Attaining Food Security and Resiliency through Farming Systems Approach” on October 17, 2022 via Zoom.

It covered two topics titled: Revisiting an Upland Development Project: Challenges for Sustainable Practices on Soil Conservation and “Integrated and Diversified Farming Systems: Crop-Livestock Enhancement through Native Animal Production”.

In his welcoming remarks, ASI Director Dr. Virgilio T. Villancio acknowledged the presence of former Directors of FSSRI and the then Agricultural Systems Cluster (ASC), and participants composed of farmer-practitioner, guests, students, LGU and provincial representatives.  He provided a brief history of FSSRI and recognized the contribution of the Institute in providing leadership in developing and promoting systems-oriented methodologies, strategies and technologies in different agroecosystems.

Former ASI Directors Dr. Elpidio L. Rosario and Dr. Florentino C. Monsalud gave their valuable insights and inspirational messages during the webinar.

Dr. Jose Nestor M. Garcia, IAF Director and Associate Professor in ASI and Ms. Marjorie Lalap-Sepina, Senior Science Research Specialist and Livestock Unit Head of the Quezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station (QARES) served as the resource persons for the webinar. While three farmer practitioners of organic agriculture also shared their practices and experiences through video presentations.

The open forum was facilitated by Dr. Blesilda M. Calub, Organic Agriculture Program Leader and Chair of the Interdisciplinary Studies Center on Organic Agriculture (IdSC-OA). This served as an avenue for sharing of practices and experiences in integrated farming systems, and for possible collaboration and opportunities. Highlights and important learnings from the webinar were captured in the synthesis delivered by Dr. Andrew D. Gasmen, ASI Extension Coordinator. Dr. Sherry B. Marasigan, Deputy Director gave the closing message for the activity.

This webinar is part of the 40^th anniversary celebration of FSSRI which aimed to inform various stakeholders of innovative practices in integrated farming systems through sharing of initiatives and experience.