The DENR-UNDP/GEF BD Corridor Project, through its National Project Management Unit and partner-agency Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), joined the first session of the Philippine Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) and DA-ATI’s Quarterly Agriculture Talks, “Collective Roots in Advancing Regenerative Agriculture Across Sectors”, held on May 5, 2026 at the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) RDEC Training Hall in Quezon City.
Dr. Mary Jean Caleda (Left) and Engr. Eduardo Alberto (Right) presents the BD Corridor Project’s experience in landscape restoration by implementing biodiversity-friendly practices through the SLM and biodiversity-friendly agriculture-related enterprises in the Mindoro and Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridors.
PPSA Executive Director, Mr. Leandro Gazmin and DA-ATI Director, Engr. Remelyn Recoter delivered messages supporting the dialogue, highlighting the importance of partnerships from both the government and the private sector in advancing regenerative agriculture. PPSA is a multi-stakeholder partnership platform that builds and bridges public and private sector partnerships, addressing market-driven solutions for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems in the country and in Southeast Asia.
Through feature discussions, partners learned about regenerative agriculture by Deep diving into Regenerative Agriculture: Understanding the Transformational Shift delivered by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the State of Regenerative Agriculture in the Philippines: Progress, Barriers, and Emerging Opportunities shared by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). According to both agencies, regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainable agriculture and organic farming, in that it is a transformational shift from farming systems heavily dependent on extraction and external inputs towards farming that conserves ecological functions, strengthens farmers, and builds resilient food systems. By seeking to harmonize agricultural productivity and sustainably manage diversity and ecosystem balance, regenerative agriculture hopes to change the future of food systems for the better.
BD Corridor Project joins in the Question and Answer Session, sharing experiences on regenerative agriculture in corridors.
BD Corridor Project National Project Manager, Dr. Mary Jean Caleda and DA-BSWM Division Chief, Engr. Eduardo Alberto shared the Project’s experience in “Landscape Restoration and Food Security: Synchronizing Agricultural Production with Biodiversity Corridors”. Dr. Caleda gave a brief background of the project and the objective of the Project to, among others, reduce land degradation through sustainable land management (SLM) practices which include biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices, and biodiversity-friendly agriculture-related enterprises. Engr. Alberto emphasized that healthy land is the foundation of resilient food systems and that SLM is the foundation and enabler of regenerative agriculture. Since regenerative agriculture is not yet in the consciousness of many, including extension workers and farmers on the ground, PPSA members recommended an extensive and intensive communication, education and public awareness campaign using materials that are user-friendly and are readily understandable by all. The Project will endeavour to share this information in the course of its work on SLM in the project sites within the Eastern Mindanao and Mindoro Biodiversity Corridors.
This initiative is part of the DENR-UNDP/GEF project on “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🌾🌽