Starting September this year, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) will implement the eFARM (engaging Food and Agriculture Resources Management) Academy Program that will run for two years. It will launch different avenues to bring the technologies 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).
With 15.4 million grant from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), CLSU will develop educational modules using different modalities and media to promote matured generated technologies that are ready for transfer and commercialization.
In a statement, Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, Deputy Executive Director and Director III of CHED-IAS said CLSU was encouraged to realize this program as its formidable implementation of agri-aqua R&D activities may open doors for more international collaborations.
“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,” said Dr. Edgar A. Orden, CLSU President. 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. Moreover, the commodities included for product development and culinary arts hope 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.
