SEARCA News

The Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to host a forum to transform agri-food systems through agri-innovation. To be held virtually on 19-20 April 2022, the forum will discuss inclusive and innovative financing models that can impact on the scalability of farming and agribusiness ventures, market accessibility through effective platforms, and digital technology integration in agricultural production. Experts from different sectors will be leading the two-day forum proper to gather insights from the participants on the conditions that should be in place to… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Education and Collective Learning Department-Training for Development Unit (T4DU), is gearing up for two online training programs under the Levelling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUpHEI AFAR) funded by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The Training-Workshop on Developing Fundable Research Project Proposals for Transformational Agricultural and Rural Development for Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines (FundableProp4HEIs) is slated for 18 -29 April 2022 while the Training on Scientific Writing and Presentation for Higher… Read more

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded project Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns (ATMI-ASEAN) gathered stakeholders and key industry players of the processed pork value chain through a series of online consultation workshops and meetings from 23 February until 23 March 2022. The series is part of the Project’s collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the development of the Philippine processed pork roadmap. The Philippine Roadmap Development Team (PRDT) under the ATMI-ASEAN Project, with technical support from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research… Read more

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), presented to Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones the Center’s progress on the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) and the soon-to-be open SEARCA iCREATE during his courtesy visit on 29 March 2022 at the Central Office in Pasig, Philippines. As part of the 11th Five-Year Plan of Accelerating Transformation Through Agriculture Innovation (ATTAIN), SEARCA geared up its efforts to continue in providing wider access for farmers and families to innovative products… Read more

Dr. Eero Nissila, Senior Fellow of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Managing Director and Chair of the Finland-based Newfields Consulting Ltd., presented the concept of Carbon Wise Rice in a meeting with the management held on 15 March 2022 at the SEARCA Headquarters. Dr. Nissila is an expert on business strategies, business models and product portfolio development in seed and breeding industry, and on directing research and development (R&D) and product production schemes for meeting the market needs. He earned his Doctor of Agriculture and Forestry (Plant Breeding) from the University… Read more

True to its mandate of empowering local communities amidst the ongoing pandemic, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Rotary Club of Los Baños Makiling (RCLB Makiling), and Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help Los Baños (LATCH LB) to provide support to the Municipality of Los Baños through the Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO) in enhancing food security and nutrition among mothers and children. The signing ceremony of the LOA was held on 3 March 2022 at the SEARCA Headquarters. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, Mr… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), together with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), conducted a virtual National Policy Forum for a recently completed Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project titled “Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines.” Held on 21 February 2022, the forum focused on the presentation of results of the value chain analysis conducted on the three identified fruit and vegetables, namely, onion, tomato, and mango. Usec. Evelyn Laviña, Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines, commenced the… Read more

The final session of the e-training titled, Trainers’ Training for Integrating the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) in the Establishment of Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia, concluded on 2 March 2022, via Zoom platform. This has been the online learning event organized and implemented by 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), in partnership with the Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). The training program is designed under the… Read more

Seventeen students of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) along with their professors and NDCP academic support staff led by Prof. Dr. Alan A. Lachica, Professor III, on 17 February 2022. The students are composed of 11 military officers from the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force; two military officers from Indonesia and Pakistan; and four civilians from the Philippine government and the private sector. The delegation is part of the 65 MNSA Regular Course 57… Read more

As part of the ongoing project on Leveling Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) funded by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED),  the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched the 10-week Online Training Course on Research Designs and Methods for Higher Education Institutions (Research4HEIs) in the Philippines on 14 February 2022  via the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagements (SOLVE) platform. Eighteen mid- to junior faculty members, researchers, and education leaders from 16 State Universities and Colleges – Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines… Read more