SEARCA News

Elementary and high school robotics enthusiasts from all over the Philippines, together with their coaches and parents, assembled at SM North Edsa, Quezon City on 22-23 September 2022, to compete in the 21st Philippine Robotics Olympiad (PRO) Finals. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with Felta Multi-Media, Inc. as a major sponsor in this year’s PRO. With this year’s theme, “My Robot, My Friend”, the first place winners in the different categories will have the opportunity to be part of the Philippine Robotics National Team 2022 and compete in the World Robot… Read more

Eight delegates from Philippine HEIs participated in the International Summer Course Program for Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience to Environmental Disaster toward Regional Sustainability, jointly organized by IPB University and Ibaraki University from 11-20 September 2022 in Bogor, Indonesia. The International Continuing Professional Education (ICPE) Grants of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through the Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) Project of SEARCA supported the faculty members as they presented their research studies to the international participants. The grant enables members of the State Universities and Colleges - Association of Colleges of Agriculture… Read more

Faculty members from Marinduque State College (MSC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Romblon State University (RSU), and Western Philippines University (WPU) visited universities in Southeast Asia to conduct research, benchmarking, and capacity-building activities, as well as explore collaborations between their home institutions and the members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). The delegates’ specific activities are also part of their institutions’ growing effort to expand partnerships and strengthen their internationalization, which is supported by SEARCA through its project on Leveling Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and… Read more

SEARCA, through the Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD), organized an online Info-session for its Joint Scholarship Programs for AY 2023-2024 on 24 September 2022 via the SOLVE Platform. The Center conducted the info session in response to the growing number of joint scholarship programs and the steady increase of applicants wanting to pursue their graduate studies through the Center’s scholarship. The event was also an avenue for interested applicants to explore their options for studying within the region and for SEARCA to emphasize available opportunities that nationals from SEAMEO member countries may consider. As part of the info session… Read more

“Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is interested in exploring synergies with SEARCA, particularly on linkages in agriculture and rural development, noting SEARCA’s work with Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines, where sustainable is agriculture has a huge potential for economic growth yet confronted with challenges,” said Dr. V. Bruce J. Tolentino, BSP Monetary Board Member, during their visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 9 September 2022. During the exploratory meeting, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, briefed the BSP delegation on the Center’s activities and programs under its 11th Five-Year… Read more

Officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) led by its General Development Advisor, Dr. Brent Edelman, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 8 September 2022. They discussed the current food security situation in the Philippines, underlying causes of food insecurity, and potential short-term and medium-term solutions. “Food insecurity is becoming an increasingly important issue for the US Embassy and the US Government here in the Philippines. We are trying to figure out what are the primary food security needs of the Philippines on a short, medium, and long-term… Read more

The Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) of SEARCA offered the Online Training on Scientific Writing for scholars from August 15 to September 5, 2022, every Monday and Thursday. The training program was attended by 2nd and 3rd-year scholars who already have research data that they can develop further into journal articles. The training aimed to introduce principles and practical techniques for communicating scientific information to an academic audience. The College of Development Communication (CDC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), conducted the training with Asst. Prof. Avril Adrianne De Guzman-Madrid from the Department of Science Communication as technical… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has embarked on a three-year project to make clean energy accessible to remote, under-served rural communities. Entitled Rice Straw Biogas Hub, the project will generate biogas as clean energy from waste rice straw and provide an innovative package of technology services for rice farmers. Funded by Innovate UK under the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organization,  the Rice Straw Biogas Hub is gearing for its first commercial scale in Laguna, Philippines, starting September 2022. The lead proponent is UK-registered startup Straw Innovations in collaboration with SEARCA, the… Read more

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Philippines and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), organized the High-Level Policy Forum on Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Pathways, Policies, and Prospects on 8-9 September 2022 at Luxent Hotel and via Zoom. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, welcomed both in-person and online participants to the forum. In his remarks, Dr. Gregorio reiterated the objectives of the forum and shared some notable involvements of the Center in the efforts in agricultural and… Read more

The persisting COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and the intensifying effects of climate change that threaten sustainable food systems around the world bring into sharp focus the need for emerging technologies and innovations that can transform agricultural production and ensure food security for the next generation.   For its 16th year, the annual photo contest launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) zooms in on "Emerging Agricultural Innovations for the Next Generation." The competition is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR… Read more