USTP CHVC - Center for High Value Crops

08/04/2026

The Development Innovations and Policy Laboratory of UPLB College of Public Affairs and Development, GAD Lab in AANR, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), successfully conducted the 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧: 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐚, 𝐒𝐢𝐲𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐲𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 “𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨: 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙂𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝘼𝙉𝙍 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧.”

The program commenced with pre-event activities last March 25 and 27, followed by the contest proper held on April 7–8, 2026 at MinDA in Davao City.

As we wrap up this year’s hackathon, who do you think will emerge as the Top 3 winners? Stay tuned for the official announcement! 👀

08/04/2026

16/03/2026

“The more we explore the fields, the more we understand farming and our ability to nurture solutions.”

Kicking off the summer heat, researchers together with farmer partners in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, launched the ACIAR–SLAM / PEHM PCAARRD field experiment—documenting local farming practices and setting up the experimental site.

09/03/2026

“Learning is not just about acquiring new knowledge, but also about unlearning old assumptions and relearning better ways forward.” -A.T.

Another productive day with partners of the ACIAR SLAM/ PEHM PCAARRD project—Dr. Stephen Harper of the University of Queensland and Dr. Vic Asio with his team from Visayas State University—together with the USTP Claveria team. We discussed plans and protocols as we move toward the next phase of the project. We also had a brief “kumustahan” with USTP Claveria’s Chancellor Dr. Renato O. Arazo.

10/09/2025

Prof. Nelda Gonzaga's team at USTP and Center for High Value Crops conducted dialogues and planning sessions with farmers and stakeholders in the event, “Insights for Claveria’s Vegetable Growers.” These form part of our efforts in capacity building and knowledge transfer identification, in partnership with the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Community of Practice (AANCoP) of the Australia Alumni Communities Philippines (AACPh), ACIAR-SLAM project – “Managing Heavy Metals and Soil Contaminants in Vegetable Production to Ensure Food Safety and Environmental Health in the Philippines” and the PCAARRD-PEHM project – “Assessment and Management of Plant Essential Heavy Metals (PEHM), Nutrients and Pathogens in Vegetable Production to Enhance Soil Health and Food Safety in the Philippines.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who actively participated and shared valuable insights toward building farmer-centered and sustainable solutions.🥰

23/07/2025

On May 6, 2025, USTP Claveria held a Capacity Building on Soil Health Management and Knowledge Transfer for Sustainable Vegetable Farming in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

This capacity-building was a research-based extension initiative that formed part of two ongoing research projects co-implemented by USTP:

Managing Heavy Metals and Soil Contaminants in Vegetable Production to Ensure Food Safety and Environmental Health in the Philippines (SLAM) – a PCAARRD-ACIAR-funded project that addressed soil contamination challenges in vegetable farming, and;

Development of a Gender-Responsive Knowledge Transfer Pathway for the Potential Adoption of Best Practices in the Philippine Vegetable Production System (GAD-KTP) – a PCAARRD-funded project aimed at fostering gender-inclusive knowledge transfer in vegetable production.

The activity combined technical insights and socio-economic perspectives to help farmers:

Address nutrient deficiencies

Understand risks of harmful soil contaminants

Explore how gender affects knowledge transfer

With hands-on soil test kit training, discussions on chicken manure use, and results validation, the session empowered farmers with practical tools for safe, sustainable vegetable farming.

Farmers also took pre- and post-tests to measure learning, affirming the importance of inclusive, evidence-based capacity-building.

Together, let’s grow smarter, safer, and stronger — for a healthier harvest and a resilient farming community.

23/07/2025

22/07/2025

https://youtu.be/R5dRzOe8mrY?si=URjn8HVV7s2frWkT