UPLB's Current Research & Extension Agenda
The current research and extension agenda of the University of the Philippines Los Baños is co-owned and collectively pursued by the UPLB staff, motivating them to engage in activities that aid in achieving the sustainable development goals, while cementing the University’s place in the international community.
Vision
The University of the Philippines Los Baños shall be the country's agora or marketplace for pioneering innovation–through systems thinking, solutions-making, and
future-proof paradigms.

Mission
We are committed to strategize our R&E efforts to ensure that what we are doing in the field, in our laboratories, and at the communities address the most pressing issues of
today and of the future.

Development Thrusts
Strategic Direction

Compassion
Inclusivity
Active Engagement
Collaboration
Science-based Recommendation
Smart Agriculture Systems powered by Agri 4.0 Technology
Biosecurity and Biosafety
Science, Technology, and Innovation System for Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Environment Continuum
Agricultural Farming Schemes for Urban and Peri-Urban Systems
Social Concerns (cultural preservation, etc.)
Environmental Concerns (natural resource conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, etc.)
Economic Concerns (increased income, economic growth, etc.)
Participation and Intergenerational Equity
Employment Opportunities
Internalization
The Continuum for Accelerating Growth
Our research and extension agenda is premised on the challenges faced by the Philippines in the areas of food security, health, natural disasters, and governance. The UPLB AGORA seeks to contribute more vigorously to addressing the pressing and pervasive problems – low productivity, unprofitability and lack of competitiveness – brought about by the size and scale of farms and farmer organizations, weak governance, and the dire lack of collaboration with the industry.

The Elements behind UPLB AGORA
The UPLB AGORA Logotype features two arrows symbolizing our ultimate goal of accelerating social, economic, and environmental growth in the country.
We also showcase a woven bamboo basket depicting our marketplace, which is held by stakeholders from the four corners of the Philippines, to illustrate our commitment to ensure UPLB R&E’s synergistic contribution to the nation’s sustainable growth.
The stakeholders are also colored according to those of UPLB AGORA’s focus areas – Food Security & Sovereignty, One Health, Resilience & Sustainability, and Future Communities & Institutions.
The badge features the Philippine archipelago up to its exclusive economic zone and partially enclosed by a stylized spoon and fork, symbolizing the principles of availability, accessibility, stability, and sustainability – pillars of this focus area, which guide UPLB in ensuring people’s access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that is produced and traded through sustainable, just, and collaboratively defined agricultural systems.
The badge features the caduceus – a medical symbol – and the union of men, animals, microorganisms, and the environment symbolizing their interconnectedness that we should remember as we address various health issues. This focus area is anchored on the pillars of disease prevention and mitigation, environmental hazard protection and conservation, and resilience of ecosystems. UPLB continues to seek to improve the physical, emotional, social, and mental wellness of the community.
The badge features the gladiolus flower, symbolizing strength and integrity. Two people connected in ‘S’ form also depicts our goal for sustainability and strong partnerships. Anchored on the pillars of human capital, environmental, social, and economic principles, this focus area seeks to lead in and facilitate the enhancement of stakeholder capacities.
The badge features a residential home, a building, and a light bulb – with its base represented by the horizontal lines of the F and its filament, by a rice stalk – to symbolize urban agriculture innovations and start-ups. Anchored on the pillars of government leadership, policy and regulation, technology and innovation, economic development, and communitarian spirit, this focus area guides UPLB in promoting a culturally vibrant, safe, and economically thriving society, and in seeking to enhance organizational capacities and promote good governance principles and practices.
114 Years of UPLB Research and Extension
We envision the University of the Philippines Los Baños as an agora or marketplace of pioneering and demand-driven
research and extension for development and innovation–through systems thinking, solutions-making,
and future-proof paradigms.
UPLB Foundation
Reassessing UPLB's Role
Reassessing UPLB's Role
Reassessing UPLB's Role
Revised RDE Thrusts
Integrated Research, Development and Extension Framework
The UPLB AGORA
The UPLB AGORA
The UPLB AGORA strategizes our research efforts to ensure that what we are doing inside our laboratories, in the field, and in the communities will address the most urgent and most important issues of today and of the future – going beyond publication, concepts, and theories to translate them into solutions and innovations that will really empower people.
This R&E Agenda is co-owned and collectively pursued by the UPLB staff, motivating them to engage in activities that aid in achieving the sustainable development goals while cementing the university’s place in the international community.


