SEARCA News

Rome, Italy – Engr. Czaneil Gomez, a Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research (SEARCA) researcher, received the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2024 Youth Award for her invaluable contribution to sustainable and renewable energy through her research, "Harnessing Rice Straw to Empower Rice Farming Communities in the Philippines." Engr. Gomez received the award during the United Nations' Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) 11th Bioenergy Week held in Rome on 17 June 2024. Maria Michela Morese, FAO senior natural resources officer and energy team leader, presented the award to Gomez, who bested seven other finalists. Engr. Gomez is working… Read more

His Excellency Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 31 May 2024 to discuss collaboration on celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Philippine-Thailand diplomatic relations. He was accompanied by Mr. Rangsant Srimangkorn, minister and deputy chief of mission, and Mr. Witsarut Piyavongsomboon, first secretary. Ambassador Traisorat lauded SEARCA's significant contribution to agriculture development and food security in the Southeast Asian region, specifically in Thailand. He also expressed gratitude to the Center for its continuous support of the Thai… Read more

Dr. Evangelyn Alocilja, a professor from the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and senior fellow of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), visited the Center on 28 May to discuss opportunities for collaboration on research, innovation, capacity building, and publication projects. During the visit, she was oriented on SEARCA's mandate, core programs, and offerings. Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, program head of the Research and Thought Leadership Department, shared the Center's plan to establish the Consortium for Agricultural Development, Research, and Extension (CADRE), a regional network of high-caliber, like-minded institutions… Read more

Rizal, Philippines - The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activity for the School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) Project in Rizal province on 21–24 May 2024. Eleven schools were visited by a SEARCA delegation composed of staff from the Education and Collective Learning Department-Training for Development Unit (ECLD-T4DU) and the Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD). Educators and officers from the participating schools have been part of two training activities in August 2023 and January 2024 about food security, sustainable agriculture, school gardening, and partnership-building, among others… Read more

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – After years of collaboration on several capacity-building initiatives for teachers and school garden coordinators in Cambodia, 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) officially inaugurated its agreement for the project titled "Participatory Action Research on Integrating the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise for the Improvement of Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia (SHGBEE Cambodia)" that was held via Zoom on 16 May 2024. During the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)… Read more

Can Tho, Vietnam—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through the Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project team, convened on 15 May 2024 with biogas experts for the potential international upscaling of a biodigester machine widely implemented in Vietnam. The seven-member SEARCA delegation visited Can Tho University to learn more about the Sustainable Biogas Production from Waste Straw (SubProM) biodigester model and discuss its potential replication and use in the Philippines. Dr. Nguyen Van Cong, dean of the College of Environment and Natural Resources (CENRes) of Can Tho University, welcomed the delegates and expressed… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) formalized their mutual understanding to partner in areas of common interest, such as education, capacity building, and research, in a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) held on 27 May 2024 at UA&P in Ortigas. The signatories to the five-year MOU are SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, UA&P president, with Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, SEARCA deputy director for administration, and Dr. Marya Svetlana Camacho, UA&P vice… Read more

Six outstanding experts from 30 nominees in Southeast Asia received the SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair Award for Academic Year 2024–25. SEARCA is recognizing these academics for the impacts of their research, instruction, and innovation efforts and in supporting agricultural and rural development in the region. The grantees are Prof. William Chen Wei Ning from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore; Prof. Muhammad Ikhwanuddin Abdullah of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in Malaysia; Prof. Sri Suhartini from Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Indonesia; Assoc. Prof. Sarana Sommano of Chiang Mai University (CMU), Thailand; Prof. Alan P. Dargantes of Central Mindanao University (CMU), and Prof… Read more

Assistant Vice President for Global Relations Dr. Balakrishnan Prithiviraj of Dalhousie University visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 22 May 2024 to explore potential areas of collaboration. He was accompanied by the University of the Philippines Los Baños Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan. Dalhousie University is Nova Scotia, Canada's leading research-intensive university. With 13 faculties, it combines exceptional student experience, high-impact research, and a deep sense of social responsibility. It welcomes 21,000 students from Canada and more than 115 countries around the world. During the visit, Dr… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with East-West Seed Philippines, launched the Innovation Fair, which showcased various agricultural products. It was participated by agripreneurs from different regions of the Philippines during the concluding session of Young Agripreneurs Building Opportunities, Nurturing Growth Bootcamp (YABONG) Bootcamp on 9 May 2024 at SEARCA Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The Innovation Fair was part of YABONG's Graduation Day in which the top five business improvement plans were awarded a PHP 50,000 boost to kickstart their farm enhancements. Alongside the pitch competition, 10 agripreneurs were set… Read more