By Kenneth Marcos 
Inside a conference hall in Batangas City, voices of researchers, trainers, and agriculture workers blended with the quiet hum of discussions. For many of them, this rare gathering was more than a meeting—it was a chance to shape the future of farming and fisheries research across the country.
Forty-nine organizations came together for the National Agriculture and Fisheries Resources, Research and Extension for Development Network (AFRREDN) Convention held on November 13–14, 2025, at the Pontefino Hotel in Batangas City. The two-day event brought together government agencies, research institutions, and extension workers to align their goals and strengthen coordination for the years ahead.
Participants received key updates from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). These included ongoing research-for-development (R4D) projects, training programs for farmers and fishers, and new strategies meant to improve how science and technology reach local communities.
Representatives from AFRREDN clusters in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao also presented reports on their regional activities. Their updates highlighted the varying needs of farmers and fisherfolk across the country, from climate-resilient crop trials to improved post-harvest technologies and community-based fisheries initiatives.
The AFRREDN network was created through Memorandum Circular No. 2, series of 2024. Its goal is to unify the efforts of ATI’s Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Network and BAR’s Regional Research and Development Extension Network. By merging these two systems, the government hopes to build a more efficient national framework for agriculture and fisheries research, extension, and innovation.
Gracing the convention was National AFRREDN Chair Undersecretary Roger V. Navarro, represented by DA Special Assistant Hazel B. Alfon. Joining her were Co-chairs DA-BAR OIC-Director Joell H. Lales and ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter. They emphasized the importance of collaboration and timely knowledge-sharing, especially as the agriculture sector continues to face challenges such as climate change, rising production costs, and fluctuating market conditions.
Speakers underscored that better research and stronger extension systems are essential for ensuring food security. They also stressed the need for solutions that small farmers and fisherfolk can easily apply, since they make up the majority of the agriculture workforce.
As the convention closed, participants expressed optimism that the unified network will lead to faster development of new technologies, more responsive training programs, and improved support for rural communities. Many left the venue with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that their work plays a direct role in helping Filipino families secure food and livelihood.
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