SEARCA News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched the pilot episode of the Youth in Agri Talk Show on 26 May 2023. The talk show is aimed at stimulating the youth’s general perception of agriculture as a field integrated into the basic education curricula, specifically in science subjects. The first episode, “Agri 101 for the Youth,” discussed farming practices on crop planting and crop rotation, planting methods such as hydroponic farming, and the difference between tissue-cultured seedlings and genetically modified (GM) plants. These topics were among the salient subjects inquired about by John Dominic… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD), hosted an online special graduate seminar on the "Physical and metabolomics approaches of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) during growth and development" on 26 May 2023. Dr. Shahidah binti Md. Nor, a DAAD*-SEARCA alumna and senior lecturer at the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, delivered the seminar. This initiative is part of her dissertation requirements. Dr. Shahidah is motivated to help the small industries in Malaysia, especially the small-scale farmers improve their agriculture output. The purple passion fruit… Read more

Dr. P. Adbul Salam, dean of the School of Environment, Resources, and Development of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 26 May 2023. Dr. Salam intended to better understand the Center’s undertakings, particularly its graduate scholarships and agricultural innovations. AIT was interested in becoming eligible for membership in the SEARCA-initiated Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). The meeting also explored potential collaboration on faculty mobility and agricultural technology. Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, senior program head of the Education… Read more

LUCENA CITY, Quezon province—The Development of the Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon project recently brought together various coconut industry stakeholders for a two-day workshop held on 16–17 May 2023 at Lucena City, Quezon province. This collaborative activity is organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Provincial Government of Quezon through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region IV with support from the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon). The workshop primarily aimed to… Read more

SIEM REAP, Cambodia—In pursuit of inspiring and motivating students about the science and art of crop production through school gardening, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN) of the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) will jointly conduct a technical training on edible landscaping to be held at CE SAIN Agricultural Technology Park (ATP), Siem Reap, Cambodia from 23 to 25 May 2023. At least 20 high school teachers and school garden and nutrition coordinators from five partner high schools in Phnom… Read more

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—Maejo University (MJU) is hosting the 8th UC Graduate Forum jointly organized with the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), for which the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) serves as secretariat. Held on 18–19 May 2023 in the Furama Chiang Mai Hotel, the 8th UC Graduate Forum is themed “Future of Agriculture Sustainability: Organic Intelligent Agriculture.” Dr. Weerapon Thongma, MJU president and a SEARCA alumnus, thanked UC for accepting MJU as a new member and enabling MJU to host the graduate forum. A total of 54 research… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) signed a formal agreement on 16 May 2023 to cooperate on initiatives that promote agriculture and rural development. Based north of Bangkok in Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand, AIT is a postgraduate institution that offers academic and research programs in engineering, environment, and management studies. With a focus on global connections, innovation, industry relevance, and entrepreneurship, AIT prepares its multicultural community of students for leadership roles and professional success in Asia and beyond. Meanwhile, SEARCA has priority focus on promoting… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)’s Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) will conduct a Special Graduate Seminar to discuss the “Physical and metabolomics approaches of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) during growth and development” on 26 May 2023 (Friday) at 10:30 a.m. (GMT +8:00) via Zoom. The public seminar is held once every semester and highlights outstanding research outputs by scholars from their graduate theses. Dr. Shahidah binti Md. Nor, SEARCA alumna and senior lecturer at the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, will share her research from her dissertation for this… Read more

More than 100 experts and partners working in the agri-food sector gathered in a Roundtable Discussion Series on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems in Southeast Asia, jointly organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The event brought together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States (US) who shared experiences and insights in promoting digital technologies, carbon farming in agriculture, and climate-smart innovations in the food and agriculture sectors. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and BSP Monetary Board Member… Read more

MUNTINLUPA CITY, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), organized a regional policy forum titled From Farms to Schools: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive School-Based Food and Nutrition Programs in Southeast Asia on 24–25 April 2023 in a hybrid format at the Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines and via Zoom. The forum generally aimed to discuss potential policy interventions and courses of action to address the nutrition-education-development nexus by including family farmers in school-based food and nutrition (SBFN) programs in Southeast… Read more