To formally commence the implementation of the project titled “Agriculture’s Footprints, Gaps, and Potentials Towards a Circular Bioeconomy: The Case of the Smallholder Farms in Caraga Region,” Caraga State University (CSU), in coordination with CSU-based Caraga Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (CCAARRD) conducted a project orientation on July 8, 2025, at the Activity Center, HERO Learning Commons.
The orientation aimed to introduce the project’s goals, components, and operational framework to key local partners and stakeholders. It served as a venue to establish a shared understanding of the circular bioeconomy concept and explore collaborative mechanisms for field implementation.
Participants included representatives from the Provincial Agricultural Offices of Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte, Municipal Agriculture Offices of Esperanza, Prosperidad, and RTR, and the City Agriculture Office of Butuan City. These offices are expected to play integral roles in facilitating local coordination, data gathering, and community engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
The program formally opened with a welcome message from Ms. Analou Piquero, MSc, followed by a session on understanding the circular economy, delivered by Dr. Anthony B. Halog, DOST Balik Scientist and project consultant. The core presentation on project overview was led by Dr. Raquel M. Balanay, Project Leader, who discussed the project’s rationale, objectives, expected outputs, team composition, and implementation timeline.
A significant part of the orientation was dedicated to the review of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with participating LGUs. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of partner agencies, emphasizing shared accountability and alignment of resources.
In the afternoon, sessions on planning and target-setting were facilitated by Ms. Sheva Mae R. Octobre, RABE. At the same time, project technical staff, Mx. Dominick Badana, L.Agri, guided the discussions on upcoming data collection activities in collaboration with local field partners.
The activity concluded with an open forum to clarify issues, gather feedback, and align expectations. In her closing message, Dr. Balanay acknowledged the active participation of the attendees and underscored CSU’s commitment to pursuing research-based, inclusive, and sustainable development in the agricultural sector. The said initiative also furthers the university’s ongoing target to fulfill Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
