DILIMAN, Quezon City—The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) partners with Winrock International to create more learning opportunities on food safety in line with the implementation of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Building Safe Agricultural Food Enterprises (B-SAFE) Project in the Philippines. 

In a virtual ceremony on September 22, 2021, officials from both institutions forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for this joint undertaking that aims to increase agricultural productivity and expand the trade of food and agricultural products in the country. 

Under the new partnership, both parties will collaborate in the development and deployment of e-Learning courses on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety. Winrock International will also coordinate with partner organizations to use existing related courses to be uploaded on the ATI’s e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries portal. 

Both institutions will also provide different capability-building interventions to food business operators, food handlers, government personnel, and other actors in the food value chain as part of the project. 

During the virtual MOU signing ATI officer-in-charge Director Rosana Mula thanked Winrock International for recognizing the Institute’s expertise in e-Learning. 

“I am ultimately thankful to Winrock International for having us on board for the conception and realization of the B-SAFE Project. With our shared goal and expertise combined, let us harness the power of digital technologies, enabling more people to build safe agricultural food enterprises,” Mula said. 

Meanwhile, B-SAFE chief Ramon Clarete acknowledged the influence of digital agriculture in advancing agricultural productivity and trade. 

“As we work together to strengthen the Philippine regulatory system and boost agricultural productivity and trade, through e-Learning, we will train food safety regulators and food business operators to better manage SPS and food safety risks and conform to international regulatory standards,” he said.

This partnership between the ATI and Winrock International is seen to leverage the use of digital technology to help improve the knowledge and skills of the key stakeholders on food safety to guarantee the country’s compliance with international SPS and food safety regulatory standards and processes.

The B-SAFE Project supports the Department of Agriculture’s “OneDA” Reform Agenda as a pathway out of poverty and towards sustained and inclusive economic growth among all players in the value chain.