Organic Agriculture gained popularity in the Philippines with the enactment of RA 10068 or otherwise known as the “Organic agriculture Act of 2010”. Section 22 of the said act gives provision for the establishment of national, regional, and provincial organic R & D and extension centers established and integrated as a major component of the existing RDE centers of DA, the DOST, the DENR, SUCs and the LGUs. These will be strengthened and enhance to spearhead the integrated program to develop and promote organic throughout the country.
The University of Southern Mindanao College of Agriculture (USMCA), the premier college of the university and a center of Excellence in Agriculture, is equipped with competent human resources who are currently pursuing various endeavours for the furtherance of organic agriculture not only in tertiary education but also in research, extension and eventually into large-scale organic crops production activities. USMCA is strategically located in the heart of the university’s 1024 hectares. It is the hub of agricultural instruction, research and extension activities in the region. With the university’s mission of helping accelerate socio-economic development, promote harmony among diverse communities, and improve the quality of life through instruction, research, extension, and resources generation in Southern Philippines. USMCA has maintained active partnership with the Provincial Government of Cotabato in its pursuit for Organic Agriculture through the 2013 Organic Agriculture Code of Cotabato Province through Provincial Ordinance No. 521, series of 2013, with the theme, ‘Truly Global Cotabato”.
With the existing human and physical resources and strategic location of USM, USMCA propose for the establishment of an Organic Agriculture Center for Research and Development at the USMCA Complex, to accelerate and fast track the development of Organic Agriculture in the region. This R & D Center serve as hub for mapping priority research in Organic Agriculture; training venue for Organic Agriculture practitioners and advocates and analyse present and future research needs and gaps in Organic Agriculture in Southern Philippines.