Ms. Geeza June Painaga-Auditor of the DA-BAFS attended the Conference on Organic Agriculture for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on December 9-10, 2024. Organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and hosted by the National Productivity Secretariat (NPS)-Sri Lanka, the event aimed to enhance awareness of climate change and intensify the promotion of Green Productivity in the agriculture sector.

The two-day conference featured presentations on the critical role of organic agriculture in enhancing biodiversity and advancing sustainability goals. Case studies from selected countries illustrated the adoption of organic practices, emphasizing policy frameworks, regulatory mechanisms, and innovative approaches to advance organic agriculture. Discussions also highlighted strategies to foster stakeholder collaboration and integrate biodiversity-focused practices into agricultural systems.

The conference provided a platform for participants to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaboratively identify solutions to strengthen biodiversity and sustainability through organic farming practices.

A total of 97 participants from 15 APO member countries attended the conference, including seven Philippine representatives from the National Organic Agriculture Program – National Program Coordinating Office (NOAP-NPCO), Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), Climate Change Commission (CCC), University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and DA-BAFS.