Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
CMU continues to strengthen its commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability as Dr. Winson M. Gutierrez, a faculty member of the Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, and the Director of Livestock Enterprise, represented the university at the Advanced Short Course on Sustainable Dairy Production Systems at Massey University, New Zealand.
Dr. Gutierrez participated in the program from December 1 to 16, 2024, as a recipient of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) Grant Program. The program aimed to provide participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills in sustainable dairy production, focusing on biosecurity, pasture management, breeding, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, and integrating global best practices.
Throughout the program, Dr. Gutierrez actively engaged in daily sessions covering New Zealand’s pasture-based dairy system and globally competitive strategies. He also gained hands-on experience in advanced farm operations and equipment handling, with workshops on GHG emission measurement and reduction techniques enhancing his expertise in addressing environmental concerns in farming systems.
As the Director of the Livestock Enterprise, Dr. Gutierrez is set to spearhead transformative initiatives at CMU. These include enhancing livestock biosecurity protocols and integrating sustainable dairy practices into the university’s curricula and extension programs. With proposals and partnerships underway, he plans to guide the establishment of advanced facilities for GHG monitoring and emission reduction. These efforts aim to improve milk production quality and farm profitability through innovative management and breeding techniques.
Moreover, Dr. Gutierrez experienced New Zealand’s cultural heritage through visits to iconic sites in Wellington, such as the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, Mt. Victoria, and the Wellington Cable Car. His immersion also included visiting a farm managed by his former student at CMU, where he participated in milking and silage preparation.
Dr. Gutierrez expressed his gratitude to the CMU administration for supporting his participation in the program and thanked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for granting him the scholarship through the Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) Grant Program.
In line with its mission of advancing the frontiers of knowledge through internationalization, Dr. Gutierrez shared that CMU is set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Massey University in the first quarter of 2025. This partnership is expected to open new opportunities for collaboration and innovation in sustainable agriculture. (Iyren Neri with information from Dr. Winson M. Gutierrez, Director, CMU-Livestock Enterprise)
