Dr. Anthony Halog, a senior academic at the University of Queensland, Australia, has been appointed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a Balik-Scientist to Caraga State University-Main Campus (CSU) to work on a circular bioeconomy project in collaboration with Dr. Raquel M. Balanay, professor and Director of CSU’s Caraga Consortium for AANR Research and Development (CCAARRD). He is scheduled to deliver a series of lectures and conduct training sessions with select personnel throughout the month of July.
Today, July 7, 2025, Dr. Halog was formally welcomed to the university through a courtesy visit with Dr. Vicente A. Pitogo, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Michelle V. Japitana, Vice President for Executive Operations. The ongoing study, titled “Agriculture’s Footprint, Gaps, and Potentials Towards a Circular Bioeconomy: The Case of Smallholder Farms in the Caraga Region,” commenced in April 2025 and is set to run for two years, with a targeted completion date in April 2026.
Formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DOST, the project aims to document and analyze smallholder farming practices, focusing on energy, materials, and water footprints, as well as waste management techniques. It also seeks to evaluate the feasibility of transitioning to a circular bioeconomy model by identifying opportunities and barriers, and by proposing a comprehensive policy framework for adoption. Dr. Halog brings invaluable expertise to the project as a globally recognized scholar and systems thinker with extensive experience in sustainability science, particularly in Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, Circular Economy, and Bioeconomy. His deep understanding of material and energy systems, coupled with practical industry experience and a commitment to transformative, systemic solutions, adds strategic insight and scientific rigor to guide smallholder farming toward a sustainable circular bioeconomy model. Dr. Halog’s consultancy will run in four phases under the DOST Balik Scientist Program:
Phase 1: July 5–19, 2025
Phase 2: October 25–November 8, 2025
Phase 3: March 1–15, 2026
Phase 4: June 4–July 3, 2026
His appointment to CSU is especially timely, as the university continues to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in the Caraga Region. The integration of circular bioeconomy principles into CSU’s research framework signifies a crucial shift toward sustainability, with a focus on the reuse and valorization of agricultural waste. This collaboration advances the university’s contributions to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The study aims to produce policy briefs, establish partnerships with farmer cooperatives, develop a comprehensive database of farm information, and generate visualizations of the complex interrelationships between farm inputs, outputs, and waste to support the integration of circular bioeconomy models into regional development plans.
As a Balik-Scientist at Caraga State University, Dr. Anthony Halog is poised to foster knowledge exchange and accelerate the transfer of advanced technologies by strengthening the country’s scientific and technological capacity. The DOST Balik-Scientist Program encourages highly qualified Filipino scientists and technologists to return and share their expertise in support of national development and innovation-driven progress.
A dinner-meeting with DOST Regional Director, Engr. Noel Ajoc, will ensue after his visit to the university, following his appointment.
Welcome aboard, Dr. Halog!
