SEARCA News

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns (ATMI-ASEAN), through its implementing institutions, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and SEARCA, and in partnership with its Vietnam focal agency, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), is organizing its 2nd High-Level Policy Forum (HLPF) in hybrid format on 1-2 June 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam and via Zoom platform, with the theme “Transforming Food Systems in the ASEAN Region Post COVID-19”.  The event will showcase the ATMI-ASEAN project outputs, among which are… Read more

Representatives from farmer groups, local government units (LGUs), academic institutions, and the private sector convened in an Agri-innovations Forum organized by the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 19-20 April 2022 via Zoom and Facebook Live. The two-day forum also discussed multidisciplinary perspectives on agri-innovations that should be in place to ignite dynamic and systemic changes in the region. Linking agri-food systems and innovations “Food systems are always transforming as new technologies are introduced, such as digital applications. To make food systems more nutritious… Read more

The Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) of SEARCA will conduct the 3rd GSID Conversations on 27 May 2022 (Friday), 10:00 a.m. (GMT +8:00) for SEARCA Scholars and Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) Grantees. The Center continues to foster the professional and academic development of scholars and grantees as they are poised to become the future leaders of agriculture and rural development in the region. Embedded in the scholarship package offered by SEARCA are the annual customized training programs targeted to build the scholars' capacity for communication, research, and facilitate the completion… Read more

SEARCA continues to provide opportunities for the capacity building of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) with three delegates attending the Training-Workshop on Sustainability Assessment in Agricultural Production and Food Processing from 15-25 May 2022, at Krabi, Thailand. The training, organized by Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand and L’ Institut Agro of France, is designed to equip the participants with the capacity for sustainability assessment and to build their skills in data collection, survey, observation, investigation, and interview. The participants are placed in a position to actively assess sustainability in agricultural production. The training workshop is also a part of KU’s… Read more

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio has been appointed to a second term as Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the center of excellence in agriculture in Southeast Asia established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Dr. Gregorio will continue to serve in this capacity until 30 April 2025. In a Townhall Meeting of SEARCA officials, staff, and scholars to kick off Dr. Gregorio's second term, Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor and Country Representative of the Philippines to and Chair of the… Read more

Catanauan, Quezon – Following the preliminary activities such as foresight scanning, planning workshop, and project proposal development, the team from the Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) headed by Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head, joined by Ms. Anna Gale C. Vallez, Program Specialist; Ms. Ruth Jazrel M. Bandong, Project Associate; and Ms. Blanquita R. Pantoja, Technical Coordinator; all of the Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD) visited the site in Catanauan, Quezon to conduct the initial scoping activity for the baseline assessment for the project titled, Development of Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the… Read more

The Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) conducted a Special Graduate Seminar on 29 April 2022 with Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung from the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). Dr. Trung shared his PhD research on Enhancing Soil Fertility and Sustainable Agricultural Production Using Legume-based Intercropping in Northern Mountainous Areas of Vietnam. Dr. Trung is an alumnus under the SEARCA Full MS/PhD research scholarship. He earned his PhD in Tropical Agriculture from Kasetsart University, Thailand in 2021. Dr. Trung talked about the importance of Cassava in Vietnam… Read more

A delegation from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) led by its Director, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, presented to Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Singapore’s Minister for Education and current President of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council (SEAMEC), the Center’s programs and activities in the region during his first virtual visit to the Philippines on 18 April 2022 via Zoom. Apart from SEARCA, the SEAMEC President was received by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) led by Secretary Leonor M. Briones, who is also the SEAMEC Vice President; the SEAMEO… Read more

Her Excellency Răduţa Dana Matache, Ambassador of Romania to the Philippines, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 12 April 2022. She was received by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director; Assoc. Prof. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration; Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Senior Program Head, Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD); Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head, Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD); Asst. Prof. Glenn N. Baticados, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD); Dr. Romeo V. Labios, Operations Consultant for Partnerships; and Ms. Corinta C… Read more

In a world that is fast becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, climate change, and other pressing realities, the need to reshape agricultural research and development in Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) has only become increasingly urgent. HEIs, which play a major role in achieving national and global development targets, can address this need by becoming champions of transformational agriculture and rural development through research projects that promote food security and sustainable agriculture. But amid competing priorities and limited resources, how can HEIs make their research more appealing and thus, fundable?… Read more