October 19, 2021
Ceremonial Signing on Centennial Anniversary of K-State Work with the Philippines
Kansas State University has had 100 years of involvement in international education in the Philippines. The first involvement of K-State was when Dr. Leland Call (Call Hall is named after) was assigned in 1921 to consult with the Philippines on agriculture programs. Now, 100 years later, there has been a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for renewed partnerships with many universities and colleges with a focus on agri-food systems in the Philippines.
K-State has MoU with 14 state universities and colleges in the Philippines. These partnerships were facilitated by the Philippines Commission on Higher Education and EducationUSA, an initiative by the US embassy in the Philippines. In addition, K-State also has an MoU with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). In attendance of the signing were the presidents and chancellors of the Higher Education Institutions and the director of SEARCA.
Associate Provost for International Programs at K-State, Grant Chapman, represented and facilitated the signing of MoU and read a message from Richard Myers, President of K-State.
“I am so pleased Kansas State University and several Philippines Higher Education Institutions with SEARCA started implementing this MoU,” Myers said. “I am optimistic our MoU will lead to greater collaborations and partnerships with action items we can synergistically do together.”
Vara Prasad, University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) at K-State said, “There are great opportunities in the Philippines in agri-food systems research focused on climate smart agricultural practices, and these networks and partnerships will allow faculty and students to proactively engage with each other to address key challenges of food, nutrition and climate security.”
Manny Reyes, Research Professor with the SIIL led and built these linkages and partnerships. He also anchored these specific discussions.
“The initial area of interest and cooperation will be on Conservation Agriculture for Organic Agriculture (CA4OA),” Reyes said.
“The collaboration with K-State is a significant undertaking toward conservation and enhancement of agricultural resources,” said Merian Catajay-Mani, President of Romblon State University in the Philippines. Others also expressed similar sentiment.
The mission of CA4OA is to grow and distribute nutritious and healthy food, profitably and equitably, while enhancing soil-water-air quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. This will not only help mitigate climate change, but also nurture peace and relationships in communities.
Virtual Signing Ceremony Video.