CLSU and the Tamagawa University, Japan will conduct the 1st International Stakeholders’ Forum on Banana and Cacao Diseases Management in the Philippines. This joint activity of the BaCaDM Project under the partnership of Tamagawa University (TU), Japan, and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Philippines is in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Science and Technology Research Partnerships (SATREPS), and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).

The first international stakeholder’s forum of the BaCaDM Project is intended for relevant stakeholders such as cacao and banana growers, industry partners, government agencies, higher education institutions, research agencies working on banana and cacao cultivation towards addressing diseases management and sustainability of the banana and cacao industries. The purpose of the forum is to: 1) benchmark the common understanding on the approaches and management of banana/cacao diseases; 2) To discuss the current state of banana and cacao research, initiatives and government interventions to improve the status of the banana and cacao industries; and 3) to map banana and cacao related research activities in the Philippines among research institutions. This event will be conducted on September 27, 2024, at the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry Conference Hall, Malate, Manila.