With Pagtanaw 2050, NAST Dreams Blue; With His 22” ViewSonic, Frank Dreams Green

The PH National Academy of Science & Technology (NAST) came out last month with the book titled Pagtanaw 2050 (Foresight 2050). To NAST, the future Philippines is blue: “A Prosperous, Archipelagic, Maritime Nation.”

NAST is attached to the Department of Science & Technology (DoST). Of Pagtanaw, Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin says, “DoST Innovation Is Not Just Technologies, Says National Academician[1]” (24 November 2021, DoST.gov.ph):

The Pagtanaw 2050 compendium listed 207 technologies that will push the country to become a prosperous archipelagic, maritime nation in 30 years.

Foresight 2050 focuses on technologies to turn the Philippines into a wealthy archipelago from treasures found in its island waters.

Among the key operational areas identified are the following: blue economy, governance, business and trade, digital technology/ICT, science education and talent retention, food security and nutrition, health systems, energy, water, environmental change, shelter, transportation and other infrastructure, and space exploration.

Jerome Suplemento II says (26 Nov 2021, “The Philippines In 2050: NAST Scientists Map Our (Possible) Future In Extensive Study[2],” Philstarlife.com):

What could the Philippines be like by the year 2050? What might happen to our natural resources? What will our cities and countryside look like? And what can the average Filipino expect in terms of life expectancy, nutrition, education, and job prospects?

These are just some of the many difficult questions that the… NAST undertook to answer in an extensive study (recorded in the book) Pagtanaw 2050: The Philippine Foresight In Science, Technology, And Innovation, launched during the 2021 National Science and Technology Week this November.

Note: In the list cited by Jerome, 1st item is: “Natural resources” – that term 1st includes soil. Because NAST excluded Agriculture, an agriculturist and a blogger, in my ViewSonic, green disappears!

By territory, the NAST covers science, technology and innovation (STI) – as according to the science authorities: Does that mean Agriculture does not need STI?

More than a year in development and spanning over 360 pages, (Foresight) 2050 brings to bear the full measure of the intellectual weight of the NAST’s experts, thought leaders, and allies across various fields on the task of (foreseeing) the potential opportunities and pitfalls that await Philippine science, technology, and innovation (STI) over the next three decades.

Foresight 2050 misses PH Agriculture!

Foresight 2050 is a DoST-sponsored national attempt that brings the intellectual weight of the “NAST experts, thought leaders, and allies” on opportunities and obstacles in the areas of STI up to 2050.

At this point, I will now say this: I checked out 4 media reports on Pagtanaw 2050 – from DoST, NEDA, PhilStar and PNA – and noneof them mentions Agriculture as a key operational area (koa)! Why?! Don’t tell me that it’s because it will make the list of 12 koas into 13, an unlucky number! That’s not science.

Now then, I interpret Foresight 2050 that it does not want me to think of Agriculture as an aspect of the Philippines that NAST considers valuable enough thinking about in terms of science, technology and innovation. Now then, I cannot think green!?@517


[1]https://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/72-2021-news/2560-innovation-is-not-just-technologies-says-national-academician.html

[2]https://philstarlife.com/geeky/810547-the-philippines-in-2050-nast-scientists-foresight-the-future-in-extensive-study?page=2

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Knorr Of Big Business Unilever Thinks Big Business Regenerative Agriculture – My Tiny Country PH Also Should!

Image
“Knorr’s plan for 50 regenerative agriculture projects is predicted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use by an estimated 30% while improving biodiversity, soil health and livelihoods.” That is regenerative agriculture (RA) news by Julian Cirineo (05 Nov 2021, “Unilever Wants To Rethink How Farms Work To Secure Food And Resources For The Future,” Rappler , rappler.com ). Note: 50 (not 5 only) RA projects to improve greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and water use by 30% – plus improving biodiversity, soil health and livelihoods. Note the last 7 words in the above paragraph. How can RA improve biodiversity? RA requires that the farmer practices multiculture (a few or many crops grown at the same time in the same place), where monoculture (such as rice-only or corn-only) is the practice – the biodiversity improves crop health because of the ensuing balance of nature, such as some organisms feed on other organisms that would otherwise become pests or cause diseases. RA is your
Read more

In Looking At The Crown Of Thorns, I Found The Clowns

Image
We could use a surprise sense of humor!  Yes, especially on the wide problematic fields of Agriculture. There was this news that some high PH government officials wanted to probe Vice President Leni Robredo for “competing against” PH agencies in providing much-needed assistances during this coronavirus lockdown, and Marigs Laririt shared a picture-story on Facebook quoting Ms Leni as saying, “I didn’t know it was competition. I didn’t see any competitors!” Ms Marigs says, “Ay, parang friends ko kung sumagot si Mam.” (Ay, with Mam, it’s just like my friends answering back.) That is a two-handed backslap, and you can imagine the lady laughing! She is the humor-monger; they are the clowns. Today is Friday, 03 April 2020 and in one account ( Wikipedia ), Friday the 3 rd of April was crucifixion of Jesus and his crowning of thorns [1] . (images: Crown of Thorns [2]  from St Anthony Messenger , 1 st clown [3]  from The Guardian , 2 nd clown [4]  from Shutterstock ) About the living clowns I
Read more

“Natural Farming” – Aggie Journalists, We Must Be Careful With The Terms We Use!

Image
Look at the contrasting images: Which one is correct in claiming what is being practiced is “natural farming”? Top Image: This one accompanies the Anonymous WWF-Philippines story, “Mindanao Farmers Start Off the Year with Natural Farming Systems Technology” published online December 2019 [1] . The World Wide Fund, WWF, is a very credible international source of knowledge on conservation, right? Not this time. Very clearly, you can see the white plastic mulch covering the furrows and bare soil in-between them. Mr or Ms Anonymous, the plastic mulch is not natural. The soil not covered in-between furrows is not natural. So much soil bare, not natural, allowing so much natural water wasted because it had evaporated from the unprotected, hot soil surface! That is not conservation; that is not natural. The term “natural” is used here very carelessly . Aggie journalists, wake up! How come I noticed all that immediately when I saw the photograph? Because I learned my organic farming more t
Read more