ABE 011 - Agricultural Engineering Overview

ABE 011 - Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

• Course Title: ABE 011 - Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Instructor: B.U. Sioquim

Prelim-Midterm Topics

• The Field of Agricultural Engineering
• Farm Power and Machinery
• Farm Structures and Conveniences
• Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Finals Topics

• Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
• Agricultural Crop Processing Engineering
• Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Sources

Evaluation Criteria

• Attendance: 5%

• Recitation: 15%

• Quizzes: 20%

• Requirements: (unspecified)

• Major Exam: 20%

• Midterm: 20%

• Final: 20%

• Passing Score: 70%

Philippine Agriculture Status (2023)

• % GDP (2023): Agriculture: 8.6%
• Employment (2023): Agriculture: 10.8 million (22.4%)

Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)

• Data presented for China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines for different years. Data points presented graphically.

Average Production and Consumption (SEA Agriculture)

• Table showing average production, average consumption, average production growth, and average consumption growth for several countries in Southeast Asia (SEA).

SEA Countries (Arable Land)

• A table showing rank, name of SEA country, arable land percentage, total area in hectares, population in 2024 and arable land per person.

Challenges and Issues (2023)

• Disaster Impact: Php 24.44 billion in damages (80% from typhoons) with Rice (28.7%), high-value crops (24.6%), and fisheries (9.3%) mostly affected.
• Food Insecurity: 33.4% of households facing moderate to severe food insecurity. Almost 70% of the population could not afford a healthy diet in 2023.
• Global Risks: The Philippines ranked first in the World Risk Index (2023) highlighting vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters.

What is Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering?

• A multi-disciplinary field combining art, science, and industry. Involves managing the growth of plants and animals.
• Encompasses natural and artificial biological processes for optimization.
• Applications include: design, planning, construction, and maintenance of buildings, machines, and other manufactured things.

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Principles and Requirements

• Combining engineering principles with biology-specific conditions related to agriculture.

Applications of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

• Sustainable production of safe food, feed, fiber, timber and other agricultural and biological materials
• Efficient use, conservation, and management of natural and renewable resources
• Improvement of human health in harmony with the environment

Agricultural and Biosystems Specializations

• A list of specializations is provided: including: agricultural and biosystems power and machinery, irrigation and drainage, soil conservation, etc.

Scope and Practice of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

• Preparation of engineering designs, plans, specifications, and project studies; feasibility studies and estimates.
• Supervision or management in construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation, drainage, soil water management systems, and agrometeorological systems.
• A list of additional activities including: power and machinery, renewable energy, buildings and structures, agricultural and bio-processing systems, waste management, and other areas is provided.

Conducting Research, Development, Testing, Manufacturing, and Sales

• Research and development in agricultural and biosystem engineering.
• Testing, evaluation, and inspection of agricultural equipment.
• Manufacture, distribution installation, and sale of agricultural and biosystems equipment.

Teaching and Lecture Organization and Evaluation

• Teaching and conducting lecture activities in agricultural and biosystems engineering subjects within Philippine institutions.
• Preparing and evaluating farm development plans; suitability maps and land use plans.
• Training and supervision of agri-fishery technicians and operators in service centers, pools, agricultural centers, and in agricultural and biosystems engineering facilities and projects.

Employment, Environmental Studies and Participation

• Employment within government and private firms requiring the knowledge and expertise of an Agricultural or Biosystem Engineer.
• Participation in preparation of environmental studies for agricultural, fisheries, agro-industrial and biosystems projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment system

History and Evolution of Agricultural Engineering

• Joseph the Dreamer is considered the first well-known agricultural engineer.
• Key milestones in the history of Agricultural Engineering is provided: including the establishment of associations and the introduction of first tractors.

The 1980s to 2010s in Agricultural Engineering

• 1980s - Widespread use of computer systems, and introduction of the first robot pesticide sprayer in Japan.
• 1994 - Farmers used GPS receivers.
• 1996 - Introduction of electronic monitoring devices allowing farmers to plant more crops efficiently
• 2000-2000s - Machine learning and Data mining began to be applied.
• 2010s - Deep learning and neural networks

Philippine Population

• Presentation of graphs and data highlighting the increasing Philippine population over time.

Republic Act No. 3927 (1964)

• First Philippine law on Agricultural Engineering.
• Defining Agricultural Engineering
• Creation of a Board of Agricultural Engineering.
• Licensure examination.

Republic Act No. 8559 (1998)

• Updated scope of RA 3927.
• Strengthened the regulatory power of the Board of Agricultural Engineering.

Republic Act No. 10915 (2016)

• Integration of biosystems principals with biological sciences with engineering principles.
• Address agricultural, environmental, and food safety issues comprehensively.
• Includes CPD law requirements.

Professional Organizations & Associations (ABE's)

• Resources provided for career planning
• Job referrals, continuing education courses, insurance, travel benefits, periodicals, and meeting opportunities offered

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)

• Provides education and advancement of engineering for agricultural, food, and biological systems. Focused in St. Joseph, Michigan, USA.

International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR)

• An international, non-governmental, non-profit organization. Created by a Constituent Assembly.

Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (PSABE)

• Founded in the 1950s to advance Agricultural Engineering.
• Only non-profit professional organization recognized by the Board of Agricultural Engineers

Opportunities for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers

• A variety of fields of work, including Research, Design, Manufacturing, Testing, Construction, Consulting, Government, Teaching, Production, Sales, and Management.

Companies/Organizations

• A list of relevant companies and organizations in the agricultural and biosystems sector is provided.

Laboratory 1 Topic

• Tasks for the student to interview three licensed Agricultural Engineers in Mindanao, focusing on specific information.