French envoy to work with SEARCA on Phl agri initiatives

  • 28 January 2016

Ambassador Thierry Mathou (third from left) of France visited SEARCA on 25 January 2016 along with Ms. Anais Voron (second from left), Scientific and Development Attaché at the French Embassy in the Philippines. They were received by Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. (center), SEARCA Director; Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz (third from right), Program Head for Knowledge Management; Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma (second from right), Program Head for Graduate Education and Institutional Development; Dr. Bessie M. Burgos (leftmost), Program Head for Research and Development; and Ms. Avril DG. Madrid (rightmost), Program Specialist, Knowledge Resources.

The Ambassador of France to the Philippines, His Excellency Thierry Mathou, said his top priority is to beef up cooperation in agriculture between the Philippines and France and is looking to collaborate with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on ensuing initiatives under such cooperation.

During his visit to SEARCA on 25 January 2016, Ambassador Mathou told Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, that a bilateral agreement between France and the Philippines will embody the different aspects of the cooperation focused on the latter’s agriculture sector, including education and research.

Accompanied by Ms. Anais Voron, Scientific and Development Attaché at the French Embassy in the Philippines, the Ambassador said he came to SEARCA to know more about the Center’s work and its cooperation with France and how to go further.

Dr. Saguiguit briefed the French envoy about SEARCA and its current programs and activities as well as its many collaborations with the French government, including its partnership with Agreenium, the French national consortium for agricultural research and education.

SEARCA also presented to Ambassador Mathou the concept of its Southeast Asian AgriMuseum, for which it is soliciting technical inputs from French exerts in setting up and designing such facility.

Dr. Saguiguit also informed the Ambassador that SEARCA is supporting the newly launched “International Double Degree Master’s Programme InterRisk” led by France in cooperation with Kasetsart University, Thailand. He said SEARCA is interested in entering into a joint scholarship project to support the pioneering InterRisk program as well as to develop a short training course to increase awareness of the health risks brought by interactions between humans, animals, and the ecosystem or “InterRisk”.

 

Dr. Saguiguit welcomes Ambassador Mathou on his arrival at SEARCA as Ms. Voron looks on.

Dr. Saguiguit briefs Ambassador Mathou about SEARCA’s programs.

Dr. Saguiguit shares with Ambassador Mathou a bit of history about SEARCA’s establishment while on a tour of the Center’s facilities.

Ambassador Mathou selects a photo keepsake from the gallery of winners of SEARCA’s annual photo contest.