As a SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair for Academic Year 2024–2025, Dr. Vachel Gay V. Paller, a parasitology professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Institute of Biological Sciences, delivered a compelling lecture on 10 March 2025 at SEARCA. Her presentation, titled Agricultural Intensification and Zoonoses Emergence: Utilizing One Health Framework to Assess Management Practices in Agricultural Landscapes, explored the critical links between agricultural practices and the rise of zoonotic diseases.
In her lecture, Prof. Paller outlined the pressing challenges confronting the Philippine agriculture sector, from adverse weather conditions and governance issues to persistent low productivity. She underscored the urgent need for collaborative, integrated efforts to tackle food insecurity and mitigate the spread of foodborne illnesses.
The lecture also showcased her various research projects, including the ZOOTRIP and FRESH FARMS programs that investigate the transmission dynamics of parasites in agricultural settings. By examining the intricate interactions among humans, animals, and the environment in the spread of zoonotic diseases, these programs not only advance academic understanding but also empower stakeholders with actionable insights to safeguard public health.
Prof. Paller called for collaborative actions involving stakeholders from agriculture and health sectors to foster a more urgent and action-oriented approach that reinforces food safety and security across the nation.
She asserted that the One Health framework is essential for creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems that protect both human and environmental health.
Prof. Paller's expertise and extensive work in parasitology have earned her numerous distinctions, including the UP Science Productivity Award, the DOST-NRCP Achievement Award in Biological Sciences, the UPLB Outstanding Researcher Award (Senior Category, Natural Sciences), and the SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair Grant for AY 2024–2025.
Since academic year 2012-2013, SEARCA has awarded 62 Regional Professorial Chair Grants to honor individuals whose exemplary work advances agriculture and rural development across the region.