By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Higher education institutions play an important role in the promotion of knowledge systems on agriculture, environment, and food. This was emphasized in the final episode of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Cultural Management (IKSCM) international webinar series of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and University of Saskatchewan (USask) held yesterday, October 18. 

Among the topics tackled were the Ilocano food systems; harnessing and protecting biodiversity to counter global challenges; utilization of indigenous species for the re-greening program of Ilocos Norte; agri-tourism as strategic intervention for tourism education; organic soil and farming systems; beekeeping practices, challenges and sustainability; and community interventions for indigenous peoples’ resiliency. 

Lectures were delivered by experts from the University of Saskatchewan, Saks Organics, and Muskoday First Nation in Canada, and professors from MMSU, Central Mindanao University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and University of Southeastern Philippines. 

Livestreamed via the MMSU Facebook page, the webinar series was conducted in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education, Philippine-Canada Education Consortium for International Collaborative Partnerships (PhilCanEDUCON) Magic 7+ and the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation. It was participated in by students and faculty members from Canada and Philippine universities.

Dr. Marlowe Aquino, MMSU director for planning and IKSCM program head, hopes knowledge gained in the webinar will help enhance engagements of PhilCanEDUCON member-institutions toward enhancing agriculture, environment and food systems in Philippines and Canada. 

The IKSCM international webinar series also covered cultural education in April, health and medicine in May, and culture and arts in September this year. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)