Dr. Cuaresma introduced the mandate and activities of SEARCA and the SEAsian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, including the program offerings of the Consortium in biotechnology. Dr. Villena then presented the global and local status of biotech crop adoption, as well as its potential and documented benefits, and introduced the BS Agricultural Biotechnology Program in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). She also briefed the participants about the activities of BIC, which aims to address the needs of the region for a highly credible, sound, and factual source of biotechnology information accessible to various stakeholders.
The training program sought to develop the participants as transformational leaders in three areas: Institution Building, Academic Management, and Resource Mobilization. It was funded by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (Sophia M. Mercado)
