To serve as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, public-private partnership, and unifying research for development (R4D) priorities, the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) convened the National Agri-Fishery Research for Development Summit (NAFRDS) on March 11–13, 2026 in Pampanga.
The participants discussed agri-fishery sector issues, challenges and opportunities towards identifying priority R4D complementation efforts and policy recommendations for the local agri-fishery system. The summit’s parallel workshop sessions included topics on aquaculture; capture fisheries; rice; corn; fruits; legumes; highland/upland vegetables; lowland vegetables; coconut; industrial/plantation crops; rootcrops; integrated forest management crops; and poultry, swine, and ruminants.
The move aims to bring existing research outputs to actual farming communities and scale up their use. “Ibig sabihin, iyong mga alam na natin na knowledge at na-generate na research, gusto na natin gamitin sa field nang maramihan at malakihan,” he added explaining that instead of conducting small-scale trials, the DA is pushing for larger research activities and wider adoption. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin-Rosas and Kristel Joyce Merle; photos by Ian Roy Leaño/DA-AFID)
