Challenges faced by Philippine agriculture and UPLB's [University of the Philippines Los Baños] strategic response towards sustainable development and internalization

The Philippines being an agricultural country need to invest in promoting inclusive growth, and build more sustainable agriculture and food systems, that are resilient to calamities and respond effectively to climate change impact. The main goal is to develop the agriculture sector to be able to attain food self sufficiency, uplift the rural community and increase the income of the farmers. Agriculture's contribution to the economy is estimated to be about 40 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and two-thirds of jobs arise from agriculture. However, agricultural sector has been beset with persistent challenges resulting in low farm incomes, low rural employment, lack of food security, and meager agricultural competitiveness. Among the 17 targeted areas of the Global Sustainable Development Goals, the Philippines should specifically pursue the goals to end/minimize hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The status of Philippine agriculture as well as the challenges and strategies for sustainable development were discussed. Challenges identified were lack of important provisions that will guarantee food security and reduce poverty in the countryside, lack of programs that will link agriculture with the industry, and insufficient activities aimed to vigorously transfer advanced production, post-harvest, and processing technologies to the stakeholders, among others. The University of the Philippines (UPLB), as the premier university offering agricultural degrees in the country serves as the leader in developing network of an integrated system in agriculture education that effectively responds to the challenges faced by the agriculture sector. For instance, UPLB's programs in the attainment of food and nutrition security as well as its visions in internalization were discussed. Programs and plans on responsive and innovative teaching methods and strengthen RDE integration were adopted, geared towards the achievement of the four dimensions of food security.