Philippine Team Meeting on Korea Research Collaboration

 

Quick recap

The meeting focused on discussing a research project involving Black Soldier Fly (BSF) and its potential integration into a circular economy value chain, particularly in relation to banana production. The participants, including CAEc_Rupert, Jen, and CARS-Dernie, discussed the project's funding structure, which is fully funded by the Korean side through the National Research Foundation, with no direct financial obligations to the university. They addressed questions about honorarium payments, financial arrangements, and the project's scope, which includes field-based data collection and local adoption strategies. The group also touched on the importance of sustainable practices, particularly regarding organic certification and international market requirements for banana sourcing.

Next steps

• CARS-Dernie: Mag-meeting after ng proposal submission para mag-integrate ng output sa in-house back sa University Code.
• Jen: I-update ang proposal at magpadala ng final version by Monday (o bago ang April 30, 2021 deadline).
• CARS-Dernie: Magulat sa status ng proposal sa hapon at mag-meeting after para sa integration sa proposal.

Summary

Informal Team Check-in Meeting

The meeting appears to be an informal check-in with participants joining and greeting each other. The conversation was primarily social in nature, with participants discussing topics like work from home arrangements, LaTeX, and taekwondo. No specific decisions, action items, or next steps were discussed during this portion of the meeting.

Korean Research Funding Discussion

The group discussed a project involving Korean funding through the National Research Foundation of Korea, which has already been approved on the Korean side. Jen clarified that the funding is not restricted to the university and can be used for personal expenses, with transactions to be made through a debit card system for traceability. The discussion also covered the distinction between government-to-government funded projects and private industry funding, with Jen confirming that private industry funding would not be applicable in this case.

BSF Integration in Green Value Chain

The group discussed a proposal related to BSF (Black Soldier Fly) integration into a green value chain, focusing on its potential as a protein source and organic waste processor. They explored existing projects and literature, particularly from Africa and the Philippines, noting the need for further research on economic aspects and adoption strategies. The discussion highlighted the importance of experimental approaches to understand treatment effects and support commercialization efforts within a circular economy framework.

Sustainable Banana Production for Korea

The group discussed sustainable practices in banana production, particularly focusing on Korean market requirements. They noted that Korean markets are increasingly demanding sustainable practices and organic certification for imported bananas, with international requirements becoming more stringent. The discussion touched on how different countries have their own quality standards and certification requirements for banana imports, with Korea specifically requiring organic certification for their market.

Sustainable Proposal Framework Discussion

The team discussed a proposal and its structure, focusing on sustainable sources and a resilience framework. Jen mentioned that specific details about activities would be provided once the activities are approved. The group also talked about templates and the urgency of submitting certain documents, including an RDE.

Foreign-Funded Project Financial Planning

The team discussed converting units to load credits and managing honorarium payments for a foreign-funded project. They clarified that if the Korean side approves the arrangement, there would be no financial obligations for the university, and expenses would be handled separately. The group also talked about structuring the main proposal, identifying micro-papers related to the project, and setting a deadline for submission by April 30, 2021. Jen mentioned that the financial obligations would be minimal, and there would be no need for extensive auditing.