Thirty-four (34) farmers completed the 8th BIGS Qualifying Course that took place on August 18 to 22, 2025, at the Everlasting Hall, Research and Extension Building, Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. The event featured lectures, field visits, and hands-on activities with resource speakers from the various units of the university.

The five-day training reflects the ongoing dedication of BSU and its partners in advancing organic agriculture.

The event commenced with a welcome message by Dr. Cheryll Launio, OES Director, who encouraged the participants to not only listen but also apply their knowledge to produce safe and nutritious food. Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Roscinto Ian Lumbres, on the other hand, reinforced Dr. Launio’s message by underscoring the importance of organic and climate-resilience agriculture in support of sustainable development. He also emphasized the importance of the BIGS Adopters in the demonstration of the BSU research-generated technologies.

For foundational topics, Precil Sales who is a faculty member from the Department of Soil Science – College of Agriculture, discussed the Legal Basis of Organic Agriculture. Her presentation focused on the laws supporting organic agriculture in the Philippines, as well as the government units responsible for the agricultural policies and programs. This was followed by a sharing of experience on the historical accounts of BIGS by Jamesly Andres, an Associate Professor II from the Department of Extension Education – College of Agriculture. He recounted BIGS’ initial challenges and highlighted its growth and current success. Cus Kilakil, Farm Manager of the Balili Experimental Area, also talked about crop establishment, particularly in selecting seed varieties and management.

The second day commenced with morning lectures and afternoon field visits. Sherilyn Balauro, a faculty member from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics – College of Home Economics and Technology, delivered a lecture on food waste management, labeling, and packaging to reduce food waste and sell products efficiently. Likewise, Arlene Wayet, Chairperson of the Department of Soil Science – College of Agriculture, shared knowledge on soil fertility management. She emphasized the importance of feeding the soil with nutrients in contrast to conventional agriculture, which feeds nutrients directly to the crops.

The participants went on a tour in the afternoon of the second day, where they visited four key locations that showcased sustainable and organic practices, including the BIGS Center, Organic Agriculture Demo Farm, Composting Area, and the BIGS Adopters’ Organic Farm. Each stop offered valuable insights into integrated and organic farming methods in producing synthetic- and pesticide-free products, reinforcing the lectures in the morning.

On the third day, the training continued with a focused lecture on disease and insect pest management. From the participants’ experiences from the previous day at the BIGS Adopters’ Organic Farm, they delved into identifying the common diseases and insect pests, as well as the effective and eco-friendly control measures. Judith Lawilao and Jovelyn Alabat, chairperson and faculty member, respectively, from the Department of Plant Pathology – College of Agriculture, led the discussion on common crop diseases. Meanwhile, Casmir Ligat, Agriculture Technician II from the Office of Extension Services, discussed the different types of insect pests. This session aimed to provide the participants with a deeper understanding of integrated diseases and insect pest management strategies necessary for organic farming.

On the fourth day, the training shifted its focus to natural farming. Erio Tinoyan, a practitioner of natural farming, facilitated the activity by introducing the principles behind natural farming, emphasizing minimal external inputs and the use of locally available materials. The session covered key techniques such as the use of Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO), Fermented Plant (FPJ) and Fruit (FFJ) juices, Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum (LAS), Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN), Fish Amino Acids (FAA), and Calcium phosphate, eggshells, or seashells. To reinforce the discussion, a hands-on activity followed, giving the participants the opportunity to prepare the natural farming mixtures themselves.

The last day of the training focused on essential aspects of farm management and entrepreneurship. Claire Pontic-Pulacan, Admin Officer I of the Human Resource Management Office, discussed farm record-keeping, farm plan and budgeting, emphasizing the significance of tracking inputs, outputs, and expenses, specifically on the non-cash expenses. She was followed by Casmir Ligat, Agriculture Technician II from the Office of Extension Services, on the Market System, where he presented the process of delivering synthetic- and pesticide-free products at the BIGS Center, Pricing, Monitoring, and Farm Inspection. Closing the session, Constantino Sudaypan, Dean of the College of Agriculture, shared his experiences and insights as one of the pioneers of organic agriculture and a former director of the Office of Extension Services.

The successful conclusion of the 8th BIGS Qualifying Course marks a significant milestone for the thirty-four (34) farmers. As these future BIGS Adopters return to their communities, they carry with them not only tools and techniques, but the vision of promoting a safe and nutritious food.//Bsu Oes