Envisioned to lead in Asia

By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

The United States Grains Council (USGC) has partnered with the Mariano Marcos State University to position the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center as a hub for a sustainable biofuels industry in the Philippines and in Asia.

This partnership was forged today, July 19, in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and USGC President and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Legrand at the Manila Marriott Hotel, Pasay City. Legrand was represented by USGC-Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Regional Director Caleb Wurth.

As stipulated in the MOU, MMSU and the USGC will exchange knowledge, experiences, measures and means in strengthening the biofuels industry and trade in the region.

USGC and MMSU will organize seminars, workshops, and missions, in both physical and virtual platforms, for international industry, policy experts, higher education institutions, local government units, farmer groups, and other stakeholders.

US Embassy in the Philippines Charge d'Affaires Heather Variava, US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service Administrator Daniel Whitley, and Department of Energy Undersecretary Robert Uy expressed support to the MMSU-USGC partnership.

Together with Pres. Agrupis in the event is Dr. Roque Ulep, NBERIC director.

Also present in the event were assistant regional director Chris Markey of the USGC-SEAO; Ethanol Producers' Association of the Philippines executive director Queenie Rojo and other EPAP officials. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)