APO Training Course on Big Data Analytics in the Agrifood Sector, February 17-20, 2025 – Virtual SessionMs. Nikki Rose G. Alegre and Mr. Alvier Jade B. Remollo of DA-BAFS participated in the Training Course on Big Data Analytics in the Agrifood Sector, held virtually on February 17-20, 2025. The training was organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and hosted by the Thailand Productivity Institute to enhance understanding of big data analytics and its applications in the agrifood sector. It also aimed to promote integrated database use and sustainable practices to improve productivity and resilience in the agrifood industries of APO member countries.The four-day training featured presentations on big data analytics for crop production and food supply chain efficiency, as well as the integration of data and analytics across the supply chain, from production to market. Case studies from selected countries demonstrated the importance of big data in resource monitoring, management, quality assurance, and sustainability. Discussions also emphasized strategies for stakeholder collaboration and ways to maximize big data analytics in the agrifood sector. The training served as a platform for participants to exchange knowledge and experiences while collaboratively identifying key big data analytics needs in the sector.A total of 49 participants from 12 APO member countries attended, including seven representatives from the Philippines—Benguet State University (BSU), Country Vest, Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – MIMAROPA, DOST – Regional Office No. III, and DA-BAFS. #BigData #BAFSonthemove #DABAFS APO Training Course on Big Data Analytics in the Agrifood Sector March 5, 2025 The DA-BAFS Standards Research Division (SRD), in coordination with the DA-Regional Field Office in Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) March 4, 2025 Assessment of PGS Group for Accreditation as Organic Certifying Body February 28, 2025 Inspection of Core PGS Framers-Memebers February 28, 2025 The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol February 28, 2025 The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet February 27, 2025 Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Cauliflower growers and traders in Ilocos Sur and Benguet participated in the Field Data Gathering (FDG) activities held on February 11-14, 2025, and February 25-28, 2025, respectively.The DA-BAFS Standards Research Division (SRD), in coordination with the DA-Regional Field Office in Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), conducted face-to-face interviews as part of the FDG activities to support the amendment of the Philippine National Standard (PNS) on Cauliflower—Product Standard—Grading and Classification (PNS/BAFPS 18:2005).The collected information on current local practices and product quality for fresh cauliflower will be used in the technical evaluation and subsequent amendment of the PNS/BAFS 18:2005.PNS/BAFS 18:2005 provides standard for the classification, grading, and packing of commercial varieties of cauliflower to be supplied fresh to consumers. #Cauliflower #ProductStandards #StandardsResearch The DA-BAFS Standards Research Division (SRD), in coordination with the DA-Regional Field Office in Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) March 4, 2025 Assessment of PGS Group for Accreditation as Organic Certifying Body February 28, 2025 Inspection of Core PGS Framers-Memebers February 28, 2025 The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol February 28, 2025 The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet February 27, 2025 Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region VIII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Calbayog City, Samar February 27, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

On February 25-27, 2025, a PGS Group based in Benguet was subjected to an office-based assessment and witness audit by DA-BAFS to verify the compliance of the group with the accreditation requirements. Once accredited as an organic certifying body, the group will be authorized to provide organic certification services to its farmer-members.The technical personnel of the DA Regional Field Office and DA Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center of the Cordillera Administrative Region provided support and assistance that made the assessment possible. #OAassessment#OrganicAgrilcuture#PGSforOA#BAFSonthemove#DABAFS Assessment of PGS Group for Accreditation as Organic Certifying Body February 28, 2025 Inspection of Core PGS Framers-Memebers February 28, 2025 The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol February 28, 2025 The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet February 27, 2025 Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region VIII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Calbayog City, Samar February 27, 2025 From Seed to Celebration: DA-BAFS and Our Farmers This Valentine’s Day February 14, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Inspectors from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region MIMAROPA Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Occidental Mindoro from February 18 to 20, 2025. The inspection was conducted to verify their compliance with the Philippine National Standard relevant to organic agriculture. Representatives from the Regional Organic Agriculture Program, Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center MIMAROPA, Municipal Agriculture Office of San Jose and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Occidental Mindoro assisted in the activity. #OAassessment #Organic Agriculture  #PGSforOA #BAFSonthemove #DABAFS Inspection of Core PGS Framers-Memebers February 28, 2025 The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol February 28, 2025 The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet February 27, 2025 Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region VIII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Calbayog City, Samar February 27, 2025 From Seed to Celebration: DA-BAFS and Our Farmers This Valentine’s Day February 14, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division Accreditation Section conducted an assessment of a PGS group in Davao City February 14, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol, conducted supervised certification for the PGS group in Bohol from February 11 to 14, 2025.The activity aimed to provide technical assistance to the accredited PGS group, ensuring that their organic certification process is conducted in full compliance with the group’s Manual of Operations (MOO).A critical component of this activity is the supervised peer review, which is intended to guide peer reviewers in verifying the compliance of applicant farmer members with the PGS group’s Internal Standards (IS).#OAtechnicalassistance#BAFS#BAFSonthemove#PGSforOA  The DA-BAFS Compliance Assistance Team, together with the DA-RFO VII and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bohol February 28, 2025 The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet February 28, 2025 Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region VIII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Calbayog City, Samar February 27, 2025 From Seed to Celebration: DA-BAFS and Our Farmers This Valentine’s Day February 14, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division Accreditation Section conducted an assessment of a PGS group in Davao City February 14, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division Accreditation Section conducted an assessment of a PGS group in Sagada. February 14, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The Monitoring Team from the DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region CAR Regulatory Division monitored certified core PGS group farmer-members in Benguet from February 11 to 13, 2025.The activity verified the continued compliance of the core PGS group farmer- members with the Philippine National Standard relevant to organic agriculture. It also validated the effective implementation of the correction and corrective action plan based on the findings from the previous inspection.Representatives from the Regional Organic Agriculture Program, Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center CAR, and Municipal Agriculture Office of Tublay assisted in the activity. #OAassessment #Organic Agriculture#PGSforOA #B AFSonthemove#DABAFS Pre-inspection activity of DA-BAFS together with the DA-RFO III Organic Agriculture Program in the province of Pampanga February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Technical Services Division (TSD) Standards Policy Recommendation (SPR) Section held an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG) meeting at the DA-BAFS Conference Room February 27, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division and DA-Regional Field Office Region VIII Regulatory Division inspected five core PGS group farmer-members in Calbayog City, Samar February 27, 2025 From Seed to Celebration: DA-BAFS and Our Farmers This Valentine’s Day February 14, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division Accreditation Section conducted an assessment of a PGS group in Davao City February 14, 2025 DA-BAFS Organic Agriculture Division Accreditation Section conducted an assessment of a PGS group in Sagada. February 14, 2025 Assessment of PGS Group for Accreditation as Organic Certifying Body February 6, 2025 Surveillance Audit of an Accredited Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)-Organic Certifying Body February 6, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 6 7