SEARCA News

Two parallel learning events convened policymakers and media practitioners from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (CLMV), and the Philippines to discuss and get updated on crop biotechnology developments in the region on 26-27 May 2014 at Baoson International Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam. Spearheaded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Eleventh Policy Roundtable on Building Capacities for Agricultural Competitiveness in Transition Southeast Asia focused on the theme “Modern Biotechnology for Food Security in a Climate Change Scenario and ASEAN Integration” while the Regional Workshop for Media Practitioners centered on “Communicating Biotechnology for Food Security and Sustainable… Read more

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Represented by Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., Center Director and two officials, SEARCA tuned in to global discourse on resilience for food and nutrition security at the sixth conference of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) toward the latter’s 2020 Vision “family” of conferences that explore emerging food policy issues to inform, influence, and catalyze action. The Conference on Building Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security took place on 15-17 May 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with more than 800 participants from 75 countries… Read more

MANDALUYONG, Philippines – “Visibility, collaboration, and project ownership.” These were the words emphasized by Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, Principal Climate Change Specialist of the Asian Development Bank, during the courtesy call of the SEARCA led team of consultants and staff for the project “Technical Assistance (TA) on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds” on 9 May 2014 at the ADB Headquarter in Mandaluyong City, Philippines… Read more

MAKATI, Philippines – Fifteen Southeast Asian graduate scholars from Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand studying at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), received their scholarship certificates from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for AY 2013-2014 in a simple handover ceremony at the German Embassy on 20 May 2014… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – SEARCA opens its doors to the advisory committee members of the Southeast Asian Upland Agriculture Fellowships, for a two-day meeting on 22-23 May 2014. This graduate scholarship project is a three-year initiative funded by the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, that aims to provide opportunities to qualified candidates from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam to pursue science-based master’s degrees in fields related to agriculture and food security in the uplands… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Dr. Dinah Pura T. Depositario presented the results of the “Meta-Analysis of SEARCA’s Food Security Initiatives” on 8 May 2014 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Dr. Depositario is a SEARCA adjunct fellow from May 2013 to May 2014 appointed as researcher cum report-writer for the study. At present, she is the Chair of the Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship, College of Economics and Management (DAME-CEM), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)… Read more

STUTTGART, Germany  - SEARCA affirmed its continuous support to the implementation of the Food Security Center (FSC) of the University of Hohenheim,(UHOH) by joining FSC’s management team and other strategic partners in its annual planning meeting on 5-6 May 2014. The annual planning event was held at the FSC headquarters, which is now under the leadership of Professor Hans Konrad Biesalski who replaced Dr. Manfred Zeller as its new Director, on 1 May 2014. Joining the planning workshop was Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, Program Head for SEARCA’s Graduate Scholarship… Read more

For their outstanding contribution to agricultural research and development, five outstanding Southeast Asian academicians have been conferred the SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair in April 2014. They are Dr. Orville L. Bondoc, Dr. Virginia C. Cuevas, and Dr. Dinah Pura T. Depositario, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Victor B. Asio from the Visayas State University (VSU); and Dr. Mohd. Razi Ismail from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)… Read more

BOGOR, Indonesia – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia Pasific (CCROM SEAP) convened the Indonesia’s 1st National Consultative Meeting on 3 April 2014 at the IPB International Convention Center (IPBICC) in Bogor, Indonesia for the ASEAN Network on Promoting Climate Resilience of Rice and Other Crops under the ASEAN-German Programme on Response to Climate Change (GAP-CC)… Read more

The UP Open University (UPOU) in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is now accepting applications to participate in the Fifth Online Course on Responding to Climate Risks in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management to be held on 19 July to 11 October 2014… Read more