On Wednesday 4 November 2020, at 13.30 pm., in meeting room 9 on the 2nd floor of the Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center at Kasetsart University. Dr. Chongrak WACHRINRAT, President of Kasetsart University along with Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak TAYJASANANT, Assistant to the President; Assistant Professor Dr. Kampanat PENSUPAR, Vice President for International Affairs; Assistant Professor Dr. Donludee JAISUT, Vice Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Agriculture; Assistant Professor Dr. Tanapon CHAISAN, Deputy Director for Research Coordination, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI); Mrs. Vrangkana BHUNDHOOMBHOAD, Vice Director of International Affairs and special operations, the Institute of Food Research and Product Development (IFRPD); Miss Araya BIJAPHALA, Director of International Affairs Division, and personnel of the International Affairs Division welcomed the delegation from the Embassy of the Philippines led by Ms. Mary Anne PADUA, the Chargé d’ Affaires along with Mr. Michael Lyndon GARCIA, First Secretary and Consul, Ms. Joanne Mae ACERO, Attaché; Ms. Nalet M. FULGENCIO, Special Agriculture Representative and Ms. Marianne MONTECILLO, Agriculture Assistant; on the occasion of visiting Kasetsart University.

The purpose of this visit was to discuss and expand academic cooperation between Kasetsart University and government, business, education sector in the Republic of the Philippines through the support of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Bangkok. Dr. Chongrak WACHRINRAT, President of Kasetsart University gave welcoming remarks and overview information of Kasetsart University. The delegation from the Embassy of the Philippines received an overview of Kasetsart University, and particularly interested in the Smart Agriculture Research and Development Program, as well as the activities and projects under the Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI) and the Institute of Food Research and Product Development (IFRPD).

The meeting discussed general and specific issues. This includes (1) the establishment of research and academic cooperation in agriculture (2) the progress of ongoing projects between Kasetsart University and higher educational institutions and private sector in the Philippines before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (3) further enhancing the platform and the development of Smart Agriculture from Traditional Agriculture as a modern alternative agriculture and to increase entrepreneurship and innovation of the new generation of businesses (4) propose a cooperation approach by developing Modules of Training in various fields such as animal husbandry, agriculture industry, tropical agriculture, crops and fruit farming, dairy products etc. (5) Develop Modules of Training of various training sessions for students, researchers and entrepreneurs not only in the agricultural sector but also to other fields such as Business administration, Engineering, etc., and expand to the community business, everyone in the community. The meeting was followed by a Q&A and an exchange of ideas on many topics that both sides were keen on, such as how to get farmers to participate and increase their incomes. At present, agricultural products have to take into account the needs of the market and industry according to international standards. Products and services that are manufactured must be of good quality, not overproduce and create value for that product to maintain the success of agricultural development. Later, the delegation from the Embassy of the Philippines paid a visit to Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI) and the Institute of Food Research and Product Development (IFRPD), and KU Dairy Center.