The overall objective of the workshop will be to critically discuss existing government programs and legislations and to explore options to improve them with the aim of creating an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable food and farming system appropriate to the needs of the Philippines, particularly smallholder farmers.

 

More specifically the workshop will:

1. Discuss current agricultural trends and issues, and their implications on the Philippines and to smallholder farmers of the country;

2. Review and discuss relevant legislations and analyze how these legislations are contributing to or negating the food security and poverty alleviation agenda of the Philippines;

3. Critically examine the intellectual property rights provisions in relevant laws and their impacts on agricultural biodiversity, smallholder farmers, food security and challenges such as climate change; and

4. Develop strategies that will help safeguard the interests of smallholder farmers and farming communities.