Israeli envoy delivers lecture at MMSU
Her Excellency Dana Kursh, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Philippines, delivered a lecture titled “Israel–Philippines Partnership: Agriculture and Beyond” during her visit to the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) on November 26 at the University Review Center (URC).
Ambassador Kursh, accompanied by Deputy Ambassador Ester Buzgan and Economic Officer and Executive Assistant Cara de Leoz, was earlier welcomed at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall by Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal, who represented University President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr.
University executives also joined the reception, including Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo, Vice President for Administration and Finance Fides Bernardo Bitanga, College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) Dean Charlie Batin, Internationalization, Linkages and Partnerships (ILP) Director Jeanette Dials, International Mobility Chief Quincy Savellano, and officials from the Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Promotions Office.
During her lecture, Ambassador Kursh underscored the longstanding technical cooperation agreement between Israel and the Philippines, focusing on agriculture and related fields. This agreement, she noted, strengthens collaboration in numerous areas, including agricultural cooperatives; marketing, distribution, and storage of produce; irrigation and water management; agricultural machinery; plant science; fruit and vegetable production and processing; postharvest handling of cut flowers; livestock, dairy, and poultry production and processing; animal health; soil management; aquaculture; and other mutually agreed-upon fields.
The Ambassador also presented comparative data on land use, population demographics, and geographic features to highlight similarities in the agricultural landscapes between the two countries. She further discussed Israel’s advanced agricultural technology ecosystem, showcasing innovations such as smart greenhouses, dairy farming systems, aquaculture technologies, wastewater management solutions. She then cited examples of Israeli technology already being applied in the Philippines, including cacao farming and greenhouse systems.
Additionally, she shared an overview of Israel’s smart agriculture model, noting how the country has become a global hub for agri-technology companies due to its innovative practices and solutions.
In his message, VP Cajigal expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Israel for selecting MMSU as a partner institution in promoting agricultural research and innovation. “In our continued quest to attain our goals as a university, our partnerships with foreign countries who share our vision are invaluable. This collaboration will allow us to explore advancements in smart agriculture together,” he said.
Ambassador Kursh’s visit to MMSU forms part of the embassy’s official visit to Ilocos Norte. The lecture was attended by third- and fourth-year agriculture and agribusiness students of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD).
Before concluding her engagement, Ambassador Kursh encouraged MMSU officials to develop proposals for collaborative projects in areas such as faculty development, student scholarships, academic and cultural exchange programs, and student immersion opportunities in Israel. (𝘔𝘔𝘝)
Nov, 27, 2025 08:48:am
Written By:
STRATCOM
