The Philippines intends to attain a stronger national soil health strategy that would lead to an increased agricultural productivity through an agreement with Australia.
This is what the government is trying to achieve as it forged a partnership with Australia on Friday, Sept. 8.
During the bilateral meeting of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on National Soil Health Strategy was signed by both countries.
In a five-page MOU, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is designated as the authorized representative of the Philippine government while the Australian Embassy in the Philippines represents its government.
The two countries aimed to cooperate in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating initiatives on the development of a National Soil Health Strategy to improve soil and land management strategies.
Healthy soil and increased agricultural productivity in the Philippines is the expected outcome of the understanding, the MOU stated.
It added that the understanding will take effect for a period of five years unless earlier terminated.
Under the MOU, the Philippines and Australia will carry out scientific and technological cooperation by identifying opportunities for collaborative research in soil and land management between research and development (R&D) institutions and the designated agencies from the two countries, with the aim to support the development of their respective National Soil Health Strategy.
They also agreed to support researchers, policy-makers, managers, and other stakeholders to build and improve capacity in soil knowledge and management including the offering of short courses, scholarships, and other relevant capacity-building mechanisms.
The two countries will also “co-organise and co-support meetings, workshops and symposia to exchange knowledge, information and lessons on science and technology, strategy development and prioritization in support of the National Soil Health Strategy.”
They shall likewise “facilitate opportunity for experts exchange to share knowledge and lessons on the development and implementation of a National Soil Health Strategy.”
The Philippines and Australia will conduct joint monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of activities under the MOU at least annually.
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