Samar State University (SSU) strengthened its commitment to climate resilient agriculture and sustainable resource management as Dr. Marife Mustacisa-Lacaba, Professor I and Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning (CeLL), represented the University in a benchmarking mission under the ISLA: Livelihood Empowerment through Sustainable Climate Resilient Agri Aqua and Natural Resources Enhancement (ISLA: LEtS CARE) Program. The activity took place from September 2 to 6, 2025 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and affiliated institutions in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Supported through the DOST PCAARRD Foreign Travel Fund, the mission aimed to explore advanced agri aqua technologies, sustainable production systems, and smart farming innovations that can be adapted for small island communities in the Philippines.
The international engagement began with a visit to UTM’s Hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (H OTEC) Centre, where Dr. Lacaba and the delegation learned how renewable energy, desalinated water production, and aquaculture operations are integrated into a single system to address energy, water, and food security challenges. The team also visited UPM’s International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I AQUAS), where researchers showcased climate resilient aquaculture practices and sustainable fish and crab culture systems suited to geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities. Additional exposure at Sayur Kita Urban Smart Farm allowed Dr. Lacaba to observe climate resilient hydroponics systems and urban farming models designed for limited spaces, along with seedling preparation, nutrient monitoring, and root development processes. Laboratory visits at UTM’s Innovation and Commercialization Centre further deepened the learning experience, especially in groundwater sludge management, water recycling systems, and IoT enabled agriculture.
The mission concluded with a meeting between the Philippine delegation, UTM researchers, and collaborating institutions to explore possible academic partnerships and joint research initiatives. The discussions opened opportunities for Memoranda of Understanding focused on technology transfer, capacity development, and scientific collaboration. Throughout the visit, SSU and DOST PCAARRD strengthened their international presence, and the activity received feature coverage through SSU’s official news portal. The benchmarking outputs, which range from renewable energy powered aquaculture models to urban hydroponics and precision agriculture systems, are now being consolidated into a final report that will guide the integration of Malaysian innovations into the ISLA: LEtS CARE program.
For Dr. Lacaba, the experience highlighted the shared aspirations between the Philippines and Malaysia in advancing scientific innovation. She noted that Malaysia’s research ecosystem is strongly anchored in industry and future business, while the Philippines’ research community is deeply oriented toward public service, yet both countries show the same dedication to uplifting communities through science and innovation. The engagement also helped establish key institutional linkages with UTM’s Smart Farming Unit, Precision Agriculture Group, the OTEC Centre in Teluk Kemang, and practitioners from the Sayur Kita and PPR Hydroponics projects. These connections are expected to support future knowledge exchange, collaborative research, policy development, and community training initiatives. As SSU moves forward with the ISLA program, the insights gained by Dr. Lacaba will be applied to the development of pilot demonstration sites, technology adoption strategies, and advocacy efforts that aim to empower farmers, fisherfolk, and local communities across the region, reinforcing SSU’s role in shaping a resilient, technology enabled, and sustainable agricultural future for small islands in the Philippines.
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