Bangkok, Thailand – The bustling metropolis of Bangkok recently hosted a major event in the agricultural engineering field. From May 22 to 24, 2024, the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC) opened its doors for international delegates attending the 25th Thai Society of Agricultural Engineering (TSAE) National Conference and the 17th TSAE International Conference. Concurrent with Agritechnica Asia 2024, the event highlighted the theme “Smart Agricultural Engineering for a Resilient and Sustainable World” and showcased the trends shaping the future of agriculture.
A confluence of innovation and expertise
The TSAE and AAAE conferences provided a dynamic venue for the exchange of ideas and progress in agricultural engineering. The wide array of topics included agricultural machinery, soil and water engineering, post-harvest processing, food engineering, and the integration of artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and robotics in agriculture. This extensive coverage ensured that participants were exposed to the latest developments and innovations aimed at cultivating resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.
One of the standout sessions was the strategic dialogue on Advancing Agritech and Localization Prospects in Philippine Agriculture. This session focused on the urgent need for local manufacturing plants for agricultural machinery in the Philippines, emphasizing the potential for joint ventures and sustainable business practices that could revolutionize the agricultural sector.
Moreover, the strategic dialogue session emphasized the critical gaps in the Philippine agricultural mechanization and postharvest processes. Key issues such as the high volume of postharvest losses, low recovery rates of rice mills, and the limited local production of agricultural machinery were discussed. The session also explored the environmental impact of traditional practices like rice straw burning, proposing innovative solutions like biochar production to mitigate these effects.
The Philippine delegation was made up of engineers and experts from Department of Agriculture bureaus, agencies, and Regional Field Offices (DA RFOs). Assistant Director Juana Tapel, PhD, led the team from the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE). Joining her were Engr. Arnel L. Tenorio and Engr. Jennifer M. Salayon of BAFE-PKMDD who presented their research on the “Application of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System (ABEMIS) in the Digitalization of Philippine Agriculture.” BAFE’s work demonstrated how digital tools are transforming farm management and productivity, promising solutions for the country’s agricultural challenges.
A glimpse into the future
Agritechnica Asia 2024, held simultaneously with the TSAE conferences, featured an immense exhibition area where over 300 exhibitors displayed state of the art agricultural technologies and innovations. The event drew over 12,000 visitors from 73 nations, offering an unparalleled opportunity for global networking and information sharing.
The exhibition of tractors, which might be a profitable economic opportunity for Asian countries, was one of the attractions of Agritechnica Asia 2024. This concept piqued the Philippine delegation’s interest, given BAFE’s continuous implementation of agricultural and fisheries engineering regulations. The need for a similar exhibit in the Philippines, promoting not only imported machinery but also locally manufactured and fabricated equipment, was highlighted in the event.
The TSAE and AAAE conferences, as well as Agritechnica Asia 2024, provided invaluable insights and fostered collaborations that are crucial for the future of agriculture. The Philippine delegation’s active involvement and the strategic discussions on agricultural mechanization underscored the importance of local innovations and the need for robust after-sales services to support the distributed machinery.
Amid ongoing global environmental and agricultural challenges, events like these illuminate the strides being made towards a more resilient and greener future for farming. The sharing of insights and breakthroughs at these conferences paves the way for advancements that can transform agricultural practices, not just in the Philippines, but worldwide.—Press release from DA-BAFE/MF
