The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), through its Training Division, participated in the SOMACORE PANORAMA Writeshop held on March 3 and 5, 2026, contributing a case study on the institute’s AquaBiz Schools – Technology Business Incubation (ABS-TBI) program.

The writeshop aimed to support Philippine partners in documenting marine and coastal conservation and fisheries-related initiatives for submission to the PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet platform, a global initiative managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that compiles and shares replicable solutions to environmental challenges.

Organized by the GIZ Philippines, under SOMACORE in the Coral Triangle Programme, a regional initiative supporting marine biodiversity conservation across the Coral Triangle, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR),  the activity gathered representatives from various government agencies including, DA-Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS), DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), and DA-Planning and Development Service (PDS).

During the writeshop, participants refined draft case studies through guided writing sessions and peer feedback, focusing on strengthening impact narratives and identifying key building blocks that make the initiatives adaptable in other contexts.

NFRDI presented the ABS-TBI program, which supports the development of sustainable aquaculture enterprises by combining technology transfer with business development. With fisheries playing a vital role in the country’s food supply and livelihoods, the program aims to help fish farmers move beyond subsistence production by equipping them with both technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.

The initiative introduces mature aquaculture and postharvest technologies and integrates them with training in enterprise development. By strengthening the capacity of fish farmers to manage aquaculture operations as businesses, the program seeks to improve productivity, stabilize incomes, and contribute to food security.

By presenting the ABS-TBI program as a solution to the PANORAMA platform, NFRDI helps document Philippine experiences in linking science, technology, and enterprise development to support more sustainable fisheries and aquaculture systems. ### (Ann Dominique Del Valle)