The governments of the Philippines and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday in a bid to further strengthen the national soil health strategy of the two 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.
The MOU was the result of the instructions of President Marcos in the first soil summit held last June 21 to 22.
Healthy soil and increased agricultural productivity in the Philippines is the expected outcome of the understanding, the MOU stated.
“This collaboration will be anchored in trust, respect, and commitment to supporting each other for mutual benefit,” the MOU stated, as it emphasized that the understanding will take effect for a period of five years unless earlier terminated.
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 MOU also provides that the two countries will “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. PND
