Newly amended DA-BAFS Standard chaired by DAFE Faculty Members

The Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Green Coffee Bean Roaster - Specifications (PNS/BFS 214:2023) have been newly amended by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, alongside the dedicated Technical Working Group (TWG) chaired by DAFE Faculty Members, Engr. Richelle Mae M. Olpot and Dr. Ruel M. Mojica.

These amended standards are poised to serve as comprehensive guides for regulatory entities, manufacturers, fabricators, and all stakeholders involved in ensuring the quality and market equity of both locally available and imported Green Coffee Bean (GCB) roasters.

Covering a range of specifications, including manufacturing and performance criteria, the PNS will set the benchmark for GCB roasters driven by electric motors, engines with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric heating elements, or diesel as heat sources. Moreover, these standards extend their embrace to GCB roasters utilizing renewable energy sources.

Engr. Crystal takes on role at FAO

DAFE Faculty member, Engr. Kelvin Michael A. Crystal, has taken on a pivotal role at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Engr. Crystal is now the Agricultural Biosystems Engineer and National Project Coordinator for the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) 3907, titled 'Improving Capacities on the Adoption of a Harmonized Mechanization Index to Increase the Level of Mechanization Efficiency of Rice and Corn Production.'

Serving as the lead consultant alongside experts in agri-socio economics and MIS, Engr. Crystal is spearheading this transformative project. The goal is to enhance the adoption capacity from the national to the local level, focusing on the harmonized mechanization index to elevate the efficiency of rice and corn production in the Philippines. The project underscores the importance of sustainable mechanization in advancing farming practices and fortifying food security.

Engr. Salona wins award in IConABT

DAFE Faculty member, Engr. Melrose M. Salona bagged the 3rd runner-up award for her outstanding poster presentation entitled "GIS-based Land Suitability Analysis of Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) Growing Areas in Indang, Cavite, Philippines" at the 3rd International Conference on Agriculture, Biosystems, and Technology (IConABT) with the theme, "Agriculture Foresight: Harnessing the Innovative Digital and Smart-Farming Technologies for Sustainable and Resilient Agri-Food, Forest, and Biobased Systems" held on December 11 - 12, 2023.

The virtual international conference aimed to bring together researchers, policymakers, farmers, and other stakeholders to discuss the latest advances in digital and smart-farming technologies and their potential to transform agri-food systems for the better.

The event was hosted by Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) in cooperation with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC).