AQD participates in three international events



(From left) Dr. Toledo, Dr. Ayson, Ms. Luhan and Mr. Encena at the World Bank competition; Dr. Toledo (seated left) at the Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management for Sustainable Aquaculture in South Korea; and Ms Tormon (standing) at the JICA training program

AQD was very much visible in the international scene, participating in three gatherings this quarter.

The latest was World Bank's 2008 Development Marketplace Global Competition which was held September 22-27 in Washington DC, the USA.

This was attended by AQD Chief Dr. JD Toledo, Research Head Dr. Evelyn Grace DJ Ayson, researchers Ms. Ma. Rovilla Luhan and Mr. Vincent Encena III.

The group presented a proposal on community-based abalone farming based on AQD’s innovative modular abalone culture in sea netcages.

The competition sought innovations in three sub-themes: (1) linking small-scale farmers to input-output markets; (2) improving land access and tenure for the poor; and (3) promoting the environmental services of agriculture in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.

The tilt was co-sponsored by the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).

AQD Chief Dr. Joebert Toledo was on hand to attend the 2008 FFTC-NFRDI International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management for Sustainable Aquaculture held last August 26 in Pusan, South Korea.

The Chief presented a paper on the role of sustainable aquaculture in integrated coastal zone management.

The workshop was organized by the Food & Fertilizer Technology Center and South Korea’s National Fisheries Research & Development Institute.

Ms. Dianne Hope Tormon of AQD’s Socioeconomics Section participated in the JICA Training Program for Young Leaders in the Field of Economic Development in Japan.

The training program was held last September 10-27 at the JICA Center in Osaka and the Fukui Prefecture in the Hokuriku region.

What learnings can be possibly applied from her experience in Japan? According to Ms. Tormon, we could adapt the Japanese support system for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their positive attitudes and values, as well as develop national programs for entrepreneurial activities.

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