QCU Hosts Seminar on School plus Home Garden cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise

Quezon City University recently hosted an Urban Agriculture Seminar on the School plus Home Garden cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) on February 8, 2024, at the Audio-Visual Room, New Academic Building, QCU San Bartolome Campus.

Led by Dr. Manny R. Reyes, a distinguished Research Professor from Kansas State University (KSU), the seminar explored innovative approaches to urban farming, emphasizing SHGBEE’s potential to tackle food insecurity and biodiversity loss while engaging youth in agricultural practices.

“There is something beautiful in producing food that provides you a certain kind of joy. And we need to engage our youth in food production while enhancing biodiversity through incorporation in K-12 and higher education,” Dr. Reyes explained.

Drawing from his experiences at various institutions, including the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Dr. Reyes provided compelling examples of successful urban farming projects. One notable instance was the transformation of an office lawn into an urban farm, fostering the growth of over 140 species of flora and fauna.

Dr. Reyes also expressed optimism about QCU becoming a hub for urban agriculture and biodiversity. He envisioned students actively participating in SHGBEE initiatives and assisting other schools in the city in creating biodiverse environments on their campuses and residences.

“Kailangan natin ng University kasi tayo ang may intellectual capital. May knowledge tayo on how to do it scientifically. We will connect the [urban] farms without scientific knowledge. We will do good for Quezon City,” he said.

In her short message, Dr. Theresita Atienza, University President, reiterated QCU’s commitment to enhancing its urban agriculture programs in alignment with the priorities of the Quezon City government. The seminar concluded with the closing remarks of Dr. Bradford Antonio C. Martinez, Vice President for Academic Affairs, who encouraged faculty members to engage actively in future urban agriculture endeavors, hoping that the seminar had ignited interest in SHGBEE among attendees.

The seminar was attended by over 40 faculty members from the university’s four colleges and was part of the collaborative efforts between the QCU – Center for Urban Agriculture and Innovation (QCU CUAI) and the Research, Extension, Planning, and Linkages – Research Management Office (REPL-RMO).

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