ABEn 131

Introduction to Agricultural and

Biosystems Engineering
The Evolution of Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Differentiate Agricultural Engineering from Agricultural and

1 Biosystems Engineering

Describe the evolution of Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural

2 and Biosystems Engineering
versus
Agricultural Engineering

❑Application-based discipline related to the PRODUCTION and

PROCESSING of goods from the field/farm to the consumer,
POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY, and PROCESS ENGINEERING.

❑ protection of the natural environment and preservation of natural

resources in:
• Soil conservation
• Rational water management
• Air pollution control
• Waste management
• Preservation of natural habitats
Agricultural Engineering

Republic Act 8559 of 1998

❑Practice of agricultural engineering in the Philippines

❑Refers to the profession requiring application of fundamental and

known principles of engineering and requirements of agriculture
as an industry and as a field of science
Agricultural Engineering
Scope of Practice Based on RA 8559 of 1998

1. Consultation, valuation, investigation and management services

2. Management or supervision and preparation of engineering designs,
plans, specifications, project studies and estimates.
3. Conducting research and development, training and extension work,
and consultancy services
4. Testing, evaluation and inspection
5. Management, manufacturing and/or marketing
6. Teaching
7. Employment with the government
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

❑ science-based engineering discipline that integrates engineering

science and design with applied biological sciences, environmental
sciences, and agricultural sciences

❑ broader area of application

❑ can also be involved in areas of bio-based materials, biofuels,

biomechatronic in food quality and safety, designing environmentally
friendly and sustainable systems.

❑ Education & Research: to understand, model, process or enhance

biological systems for sustainable development
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Is not:
Biotechnology
techniques that use living organisms or parts to produce a variety
of products

Biomedical Engineering
application of engineering principles and techniques to the
medical field
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

Republic Act 10915

Act Strengthening, Modernizing and Aligning the Practice of Agricultural Engineering in the
Country into the Internationally Recognized Practice of Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering, and for Other Purposes.
❑ Application of engineering science and designs to the process and
systems
• Sustainable production
• Post-production
• Processing
• Efficient utilization
• Conservation and management of natural and renewable
resources
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER

✓ Registered and licensed to practice agricultural and biosystems
engineering in the country

✓ Holds a valid certificate of registration and personal identification card

from the Board of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and the
PRC
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Scope of Practice Based on RA 10915

1. Preparation of engineering designs, plans, specifications, project

studies, feasibility studies and estimates
2. Supervision or management on the construction, operation, and
maintenance
3. Valuation, appraisal, investigation, inspection, monitoring, and
technical audit on AB machineries and equipment, facilities, and
projects.
4. Program/project development and management, planning,
evaluation, and consultancy services on AB engineering undertakings
5. Conduct of research and development, training and extension on ABE
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Scope of Practice Based on RA 10915

6. Testing, evaluation, and inspection of AB machinery, and other related

AB facilities, equipment and projects;
7. Manufacture, distribution, installation, and sale of AB machinery and
other related ABE facilities and equipment;
8. Teaching and/or conduct of lecture of ABE subjects;
9. Preparation and evaluation of farm development plans, farm
suitability maps and land use maps/reports for agricultural, livestock
and poultry, fishery, aquaculture and forest production and
processing;
10. Training and supervision of agri-fishery machinery technicians and
operators in AB plants, establishments, facilities, and projects.
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Scope of Practice Based on RA 10915

11. employment with the government and private firms and

establishments; and
12. participation in the preparation of environmental studios for
agricultural, fisheries, agro-industrial and biosystems projects and its
monitoring under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
system
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and

Biosystems Engineering
strengthened by the approval of CHED by virtue of CHED
Memorandum Order No. 94, series of 2017
 AGRICULTURAL &
BIOSYSTEMS
ENGINEERING

AGRICULTURAL
ENGINEERING
19 th Century
Agricultural Engineering Profession – specialized field in
Agriculture focusing on farm power and machinery and
crop processing.

United States of America

Iowa State University
1903 First curriculum in agricultural engineering by
Professor J.B. Davidson
1905 Department of Agricultural Engineering at ISU
was formally established
1907 – AE Profession was firmly established with the
formation of the American Society of Agricultural
Engineers (ASAE)
1980s to early 2000 – HEIs experienced the following
problems:
❑ Significant decline in student enrolment
❑ Reduced prestige
❑ Declining funding

A clamor that society’s needs for renewable sources of

energy, environmental stewardship should be added into the
curriculum.
Late 1980s – most AE departments in USA and
Canada have added a “bio” modifier term to their
programs:
• Bio-systems
• Bio-logical
• Bio-resources
• Bio-engineering, etc.
1990 – BSAE in ISU was renamed to BSABE (BS in
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering)
1995 – 30 of the 49 academic departments in the US
had modified their department’s name to include
Biological Engineering or some variations of it
2002– 17 different names of undergraduate curricula
and 9 different for departments with agricultural
engineering origin.
change in name -> increased enrolments in most cases

2005 – ASAE (American Society of Agricultural

Engineers) and CSAE (Canadian Society of Agricultural
Engineers) decided to change their name, respectively to
ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological
Engineers) and CSBE (Canadian Society for
Bioengineering)
 ABE Education and Specialization
CORE CURRICULUM
1. Competencies – dynamic combination of cognitive and
metacognitive skills, knowledge, and understanding;
interpersonal, intellectual, and practical skills; and ethical
values
2. Learning Outcomes – statements of what a learner is
expected to know, understand, and/or be able to demonstrate
at the end of a period
ABE Education and Specialization

Components of the CORE CURRICULA

A. Fundamental Competences and Knowledge associated
with the Learning Outcomes of the Engineering Part:
1. Engineering graphics and design (CAD)
2. Mechanics (statics)
3. Mechanics (dynamics)
4. Strength of materials
5. Fluid mechanics
6. Applied Thermodynamics
7. Heat and mass transfer
8. Electricity and electronics
9. System dynamics
ABE Education and Specialization

Components of the CORE CURRICULA

B. Fundamental Competences and Knowledge associated
with the Learning Outcomes of the Biological Sciences:
1. Plant biology
2. Animal biology
3. Introduction to soil science
4. Introduction to agricultural meteorology and micro-meteorology
5. Understanding the environment
6. Microbiology
ABE Education and Specialization

Components of the CORE CURRICULA

C. Specialization-Specific Mid-Level Learning Outcomes
1. Bioprocess Engineering
2. Bioenergy Systems
3. Bio-based Materials
4. Structural Systems, Materials, and Environment for Biological
Systems
5. Biosystems Information and Analysis
6. Water Resources Engineering
ABE Education and Specialization

Components of the CORE CURRICULA

D. Basic-Level Learning Outcomes for All Specializations
1. LOBS (learning outcome : basic sciences)
2. LOFES (learning outcome : fundamental engineering sciences)
3. LOFBS (learning outcome : fundamental biological/agricultural
sciences)
4. LOHE (learning outcome : humanities and economics)
ABE Education and Specialization

Some Position Titles of graduates:

▪ Design Engineer
▪ Test Engineer
▪ Project Engineer
▪ Plant Engineer
▪ Quality Control Engineer
▪ Process Engineer
▪ Energy Adviser
▪ Consulting Engineer
▪ Environmental Engineer
 The Evolution of Agricultural
Engineering to Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering in the
Philippines
1957 – 1st batch of AE
1964 – first law supporting the practice of AE was enacted
RA 3927 “An Act to Regulate the Practice of Agricultural Engineering in
the Philippines.”

1998 – strengthened the practice of AE

RA 8559 “An Act to Regulating the Practice of Agricultural Engineering
Profession in the Philippines.”
27 July 2016 – ABE discipline was adopted and
implemented in the Philippines
RA 10915 “An act strengthening, modernizing and aligning the practice
of agricultural engineering in the country into the internationally
recognized practice of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and for
other purposes.”
December 2017 – Bachelor of Science in
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (BSABE) was
formally introduced and adopted
CHED CMO No. 94, s. 2017, “Policies, Standards, and Guidelines in the
Offering of the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering.
Other Philippine Laws Supporting the Practice of the ABE
Profession
RA No. 10601 – The Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law of 2013
RA No. 9184 – the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2009
RA No. 9513 – The Renewable Energy Act of 2008
RA No. 9514 – The Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008
RA No. 9520 – The Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008
RA No. 9512 – The National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008
RA No. 9367 – The Biofuel Act of 2006
RA No. 9003 – The Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act of 2000
RA No. 8749 – The Philippine Clean Air Act (PCAA) of 1999
RA No. 8550 – The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
RA No. 8435 – The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA)
PD 1096 – The National Building Code of the Philippines