PH-Australia Sign MOU Strengthening "Nat’l Soil Health Strategy"

The governments of the Philippines and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday to further strengthen their respective national soil health strategies.

The two countries aim to cooperate in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating initiatives related to the development of a 'National Soil Health Strategy' to improve soil and land management strategies. I Photo: Republic of the Philippines Presidential Communications Office

In the five-page MOU, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is designated as the authorized representative of the Philippine government, while the Australian Embassy in the Philippines represents its government.

The two countries aim to cooperate in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating initiatives related to the development of a 'National Soil Health Strategy' to improve soil and land management strategies.

The MOU resulted from the instructions of President Marcos during the first soil summit held last June 21 to 22. The expected outcome of this collaboration is healthy soil and increased agricultural productivity in the Philippines, as stated in the MOU.

“This collaboration will be anchored in trust, respect, and a commitment to supporting each other for mutual benefit,” the MOU stated, emphasizing that the understanding will be effective for a period of five years unless terminated earlier.

The Philippines and Australia will carry out scientific and technological cooperation by identifying opportunities for collaborative research in soil and land management between research and development (R&D) institutions and the designated agencies from the two countries.

This aims to support the development of their respective National Soil Health Strategies.

They also agreed to support researchers, policymakers, managers, and other stakeholders in building and improving their capacity in soil knowledge and management, including offering short courses, scholarships, and other relevant capacity-building mechanisms.

The MOU also provides that the two countries will "co-organize and co-support meetings, workshops, and symposia to exchange knowledge, information, and lessons on science and technology, strategy development, and prioritization in support of the National Soil Health Strategy."

They shall likewise "facilitate opportunities for expert exchanges to share knowledge and lessons on the development and implementation of a National Soil Health Strategy."

The Philippines and Australia will conduct joint monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of activities under the MOU at least annually.

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