GrainPro meets DAFE faculty members

In relation to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between GrainPro through GrainPro Philippines, and Cavite State University (CvSU) through the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering (DAFE), an in-person meeting was held at DAFE, CvSU, Indang, Cavite. The agenda of the meeting is to discuss the possible research collaborations of GrainPro and DAFE on baseline data on coffee fermentation and the design of different-capacities coffee fermentation bags. In addition, other specific researchable areas for coffee properties were discussed.  Dr. Melanie B. Ocreto, the Product Manager led the GrainPro team together with Engrs. Alnor N. Limbo and Richard Q. Cayabyab, Global Technical Service Manager and Customer Support Engineer, respectively.

L-R: Engrs. Kelvin Michael Crystal, Richelle Mae Mendoza-Olpot, Alnor Limbo, Richard Cayabyab, Melanie Ocreto, and Al Owen Roy Ferrera

DAFE holds writeshop on agri-fisheries machine design for ABE students

The Department of Agricultural and Food Engineernig (DAFE) through the initiatives of its chairperson, Engr. Al Owen Roy A. Ferrera, and department research coordinator, Engr. Jose Carlo R. Dizon, holds a capacity-building activity entitled "Writeshop on Agri-Fisheries Machine (AFM) Design for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) Students" on March 27, 2023, at the Simulation, Modeling, and Measurement Laboratory (SiMM Lab), Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. 

Participants and DAFE faculty member during the capacity building activity

The objective of the activity is to capacitate BS ABE students on the AFM design process, the economics and project appraisal, and the modeling and simulation process before prototyping. Participants are selected BS ABE students whose thesis or research area is under AFM machine design. The capacity building activity was spearheaded by machinery-major faculty members of DAFE, Engrs. John Paulo M. Perido and Kelvin Michael A. Crystal, with minors in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering and Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship, respectively. The participants presented their writeshop output in the last quarter of the day and were critiqued by co-participants and Engrs. Perido and Crystal.

Activities during the writeshop on AFM design

DAFE participates CvSU Loyalty Day, and co-hosts the AElumni Homecoming 2023

The Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering (DAFE) participates Loyalty Day celebration on March 24, 2023, as part of the Cavite State University's weeklong celebration of its 117th Founding Anniversary. The Loyalty Day includes activities such as Unity Walk, Zumba, Inauguration of Bahay ng Alumni, Agri-Ecotourism Tour, Fellowship Lunch, and Pasiklaban ng Alumni. 

DAFE faculty members during the inauguration of Bahay ng Alumni

Activities during the Loyalty Day

In addition, DAFE together with the Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (PSABE) Cavite Chapter and the CvSU Agricultural Engineering (AE) Group hosted an alumni homecoming activity for AE graduates with the theme "AElumni Homecoming 2023: Ang Pagbabalik sa CvSU" on March 24, 2023, at the S.M. Rolle Hall, CvSU, Indang, Cavite. The activity is also a part of the Loyalty Day in celebration of Cavite State University's weeklong celebration of its 117th Founding Anniversary. A lot of activities were enjoined by the AE alumni such as AE Toast, team games, tribute for the senior and retired professors, and to Dr. Marilyn M. Escobar; presentations of PSABE Cavite and PPG CvSU Chapters' activities; and many more. The homecoming activity was attended by more than ninety (90) AE alumni from 31 batches (1985 as the first batch of AE in CvSU).

Participants during the AElumni Homecoming 2023

Engr. Ferrera participates in the nationwide consultation for ABE TOS

The chairperson of the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering (DAFE), Engr. Al Owen Roy A. Ferrera, participates in the Nationwide Consultation on the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) Table of Specifications (TOS) and Updates of the ABE Profession on March 2-3, 2023, at the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT), University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna. The objective of the activity is to consult the stakeholders from different state universities and colleges (SUCs) and high education institutions (HEIs) on the modifications of the ABE TOS for the licensure examination. The Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) and Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH) also presented the Highlights of the major roles of HEI in the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Research Development and Extension (RDE) Agenda and AFMech RDE Network; BIOMECH's initiatives in coming up with a Compendium of agri-fisheries mechanization technologies developed by the HEIs; Status of HEI database; and Salient points of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) drafter by UPLB OIDHE for possible collaborations. BAFE also presented the Accreditation of agricultural fishery machinery testing center vis-a-vi certification of test engineers; Rolling out AFMech TVET training regulations; ABE's rile in the national building code; and Career pathways for the academe. 

Moreover, the updates on ABE profession was discussed in relation with the recently signed Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the Republic Act No. 10915, also known as the Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Act of 2016. The IRR of this law was formally signed by PRBABE and PRC on July 8, 2022.

The activity is funded by the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) led by its Director and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Professional Regulatory Board for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (PRBABE) Chairperson, Engr. Ariodear C. Rico, and other PRBABE members: Engr. Caesar Joventino M. Tado, and Engr. Sherwin O. Valdez. 

Engr. Dizon attends 1st Belmont Forum on COAST Card

The Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation (COAST) Card is a research program that embraces a transnational and transdisciplinary approach to solving global sustainability challenges. It was funded by Belmont Forum, a consortium of research funders that focuses on research that allows the participation of stakeholders in a co-design and co-development process. This research project comprised teams from the United States, The Philippines, Norway, India, and Japan. The project aims to extend and adapt the developed framework of Chesapeake Bay in the United States to Manila Bay in the Philippines, Tokyo Bay and Sekisei Lagoon in Japan, and the Goa Coast in India.

Participants during the 1st Belmont Forum on Coast Card
(Engr. Dizon at 11th from the top right)
Source: Julius Victor Carag Degala

Engr. Jose Carlo Dizon, together with other delegate members of Cavite State University, attends the 1st Belmont Forum on COAST CARD - Manila Bay Stakeholders Conference and Workshop from February 27 to March 3, 2023. The five-day event was held in three different venues: the Manila Hotel, the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters, and the University of the Philippines Diliman. The forum includes panel discussions, lectures, poster presentations, an open house activity for the Manila stakeholders, field trips, and workshops. Engr. Dizon presents a poster on his study on Hydrologic Modeling and Flood Inundation Mapping of Imus River Basin, Cavite, Philippines, Using Hydrologic Engineering Center - Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and River Analysis System (HEC-RAS).

Engr. Dizon together with other faculty members of CvSU (top right) during the workshop
and poster presentation during the 1st Belmont Forum on COAST Card
Source: Engr. Jose Carlo R. Dizon

Engr. Crystal participates in an international workshop

Engr. Kelvin Michael A. Crystal, a faculty member of the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering (DAFE), participated in the In-Person Workshop on Conducting Responsible and Productive Research Collaboration held on February 2-3, 2023, at the Centara Grand Hotel, Central Plaza, Lapdarao in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was hosted and funded by Gryphon Scientific led by its Practice Director on Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Technologies, Dr. Mark Kazmierczak. Gryphon Scientific is a specialized, small business research and consulting practice composed of life scientists and health researchers who use rigorous scientific analyses to address problems of global health and security.

Participants of the workshop from Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The workshop was participated by other researchers and academicians from Cavite State University, DOST-SEI and DOST-ITDI, University of the Philippines, Mapua University, and other researchers from different ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Gyphon Scientific introduced a framework for conducting responsible and productive research collaboration which includes the four pillars: knowing your partner, planning the partnership, technology assessment (risk-benefit assessment), and institutional guidelines. 

Engr. Crystal (third from the left) with other Philippine delegates (from CvSU, DOST-SEI and DOST-ITDI, University of the Philippines, and Mapua University) and the Gryphon Scientific officials.

The workshop also includes plenary sessions such as "Art of Effective Negotiation" by Dr. Supapan Serpahin, a fellow from the Committee on Advancement of Women Chemists (COACh) at the University of Oregon in the United States; and "Planning the Partnership" in terms of funding, agreements, resolutions, ownership and authorship, and intellectual property rights by Ms. Sheryl Fenol, a faculty researcher at the Cavite State University in the Philippines. The third pillar on technology assessment and the fourth pillar was discussed by Dr. Kazmierczak and Ms. Elly Sukup, respectively. 

Clockwise: Engr. Crystal with the Gryphon Scientific Director, Dr. Mark Kazmierczak; Participants with Dr. Supapan of COACh, University of Oregon, USA; Engr. Crystal with one of the workshop activities with other participants from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia; and Engr. Crystal sharing his group's output in one of the activities in the workshop.