Dr. Junel Soriano has over twenty years of dedicated service in the Philippine agriculture sector, promoting sustainable and science-based agri-food systems. Most recently, he served as Director IV at the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), leading initiatives to advance the country's research for development (R4D) agenda. His work included developing national programs for rice innovation and agri-fishery research. He also acted as the Officer-in-Charge Director of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and was a Technical Adviser to the Secretary's Office, contributing to the Masagana Rice Industry Program. His career began in 1999 with the National Irrigation Administration, followed by roles in academia at Bulacan Agricultural State College and Isabela State University. As a Fulbright Agriculture Scholar, he focused on sustainable farming at Texas A&M and ICRISAT. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Engineering from Central Luzon State University, along with Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Tarlac Agricultural University.