Participating in the 17th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development (17th ICERD) held at the Royal University of Agriculture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ms. Ellen Grace T. Soberano advanced the Cenphilian banner globally.

Currently a faculty member of Central Philippines State University (CPSU) – College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF), Soberano presented her study titled “CFARM-SMART: Coconut Farmers’ Awareness and Adoption of Sustainable and Resilient Technologies in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines” in the conference.

The Cenphilian proponent’s participation in the 17th ICERD last March 26-29, 2026, in Phnom Penh is a concrete testament to the CPSU’s steadfast zeal in broadening its global participation in international academic engagements. It reflects the university’s continuing commitment to excellence in research, extension, and internationalization, while also contributing to broader academic conversations on climate resilience, sustainability, and rural development.

The study highlights the significance of sustainable and resilient agricultural technologies in improving adaptive capacities and productivity amidst environmental and rural development challenges and contributes to the enrichment of the academe in sustainable tropical agriculture.

Moreover, the oral presentation provided an opportunity to share locally grounded research initiatives from Negros Occidental with an international community of scholars, practitioners, and development partners.

Previously, Soberano also completed international summer courses in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture, focusing on cacao in 2024 and on coffee in 2025 at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for which she received awards, including Best Paper Presentation and Most Active Participant with Exemplary Academic Performance, respectively.

In a written statement expressed with humility and gratitude, Soberano shares this milestone as part of CPSU’s growing participation in global academic platforms and its enduring mission to advance instruction, research, extension, and international collaboration for inclusive and sustainable development.

Photos owned by: សាកលវិទ្យាល័យភូមិន្ទកសិកម្ម RUA - Royal University of Agriculture