SEARCA News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a workshop meeting for the 2nd Edition of the Southeast Asian Agriculture and Development Primer (SAADP) Series on 10-11 June 2014 at the Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City, Philippines. With the theme “Policy Reforms and Institutional Innovations in Agriculture: Experiences, Impacts, and Lessons,” 14 lead authors and co-authors of the 11-volume Primer Series, who come from universities, ministries, non-government organizations, and development agencies across Southeast Asia, participated… Read more

MANILA, Philippines – The Technical Assistance (TA) on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds kicked off with a meeting between the team of consultants, representatives from the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Embassy of Japan… Read more

The ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) Strategic Response Fund, also known as the ASFN Flexible Funding Mechanism, was launched during the 8th ASFN Annual Meeting held on 27-28 May 2014 at the Sabah Forestry Department Office in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The Launching Ceremony also marked Phase II of the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC). The occasion was graced by Dr. Juergen Blaser, Representative of the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Madam Wan Hasmah Wan Mohammad, ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) Leader of Malaysia and the Current Chair Country… Read more

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