A Filipina scientist has been awarded a knighthood by The Netherlands for her efforts in agriculture and promoting Dutch-Filipino relations.
Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc was awarded the Knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau by Ambassador Saskia de Lang in recognition of her dedication in transforming Philippine agriculture and boosting farmers' productivity.
“The Philippines and The Netherlands have developed strong ties in the agri-food sector in the areas of trade, investments, agricultural technology, and knowledge transfer,” the embassy said in a statement on Monday, April 26.
The Order of Orange-Nassau is awarded to individuals for longstanding meritorious service to society.
“I am very proud to announce that it has pleased His Majesty King Willem Alexander to award a Knighthood to a leading personality of the Dutch Filipino community. It is a recognition of exceptional merit to The Netherlands,” Lang said.
Sayoc serves as the public affairs lead for the East-West Seed Group (EWS) and head of the Philippine-Dutch Fellows Network, Inc.
She is also the chairperson of the Philippine Seed Industry Association and was instrumental in the involvement of Dutch expertise in the scoping mission on establishing the National Seed Technology Park, the first step for the planned multi-year collaboration between the two countries on horticulture development.
Sayoc is also a board member of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc. (DCCP) since 2014.
"We are extremely happy and proud to announce that our very own DCCP chairwoman Mary Ann Pelagio Sayoc has been decorated as a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau,” the DCCP said.
“This Dutch order of chivalry is a token of merit for her continuous effort to strengthen Dutch-Philippine relations through various initiatives including as a founding member of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. We want to congratulate MaryAnn on this well-deserved achievement.”
Prior to her move to the seed industry in 1998, Sayoc was involved with the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry, an institution created by The Netherlands government through Barneveld College, and the Philippine government through the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute.