SEARCA News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is accepting proposals for its Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS) until 9 August 2024. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director, emphasizes that "Through GRAINS, we aim to empower researchers and innovators to develop solutions that will lead to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Southeast Asia." SEARCA GRAINS offers substantial funding to support projects addressing critical agricultural challenges in Southeast Asia. These include developing sustainable farming practices, building climate-resilient agriculture, advancing agricultural biotechnology, strengthening value chains, ensuring food security, and creating effective… Read more

Delegates from the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MoECRT) and Indonesia-hosted Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) centers—the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP) and the SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Center (SEAMOLEC) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 22 July 2024 to benchmark the Center's institutional and financial management best practices and broach potential collaborative programs. The visitors were led by Prof. Dra. Tjitjik Sri Tjahjandarie, Secretary to the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (DGHERT), MoECRT and Country Representative of Indonesia to… Read more

MANILA, Philippines—At the 19th Annual Meeting and Scientific Convention of the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines (NAST) Outstanding Young Scientists Inc. (OYSI) held on 9 July 2024, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), emphasized the need to rethink traditional agricultural approaches. He underscored this in light of the complex challenges confronting the agriculture sector, including food security, climate change, and resource depletion. Dr. Gregorio highlighted SEARCA's strategic role in advancing agricultural innovation and sustainable development across Southeast Asia. Citing SEARCA's work focused on… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio highlighted technological advances for food and nutrition security at the 44th Annual Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) Meeting and Symposium (APAMS), held on 15–16 July 2024 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Baker Hall. With the theme "Filipino Scientists Across Borders: Towards Developing Regional S&T Innovation Ecosystems," APAMS brings together leading scientists, engineers, and researchers from the Philippines and beyond, providing them with a platform to share their work, engage in discussions, and explore opportunities for… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently spearheaded two significant knowledge-sharing events to introduce and promote open system machinery to Cambodia and the Philippine farming communities. These events, held in collaboration with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Cambodia and Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in the Philippines, represent a crucial step toward modernizing agricultural practices in these regions. Cambodia: Advancing vegetable transplanting technology In May 2024, a knowledge-sharing event was held in Takeo Province, Cambodia, in partnership with the RUA. The event highlighted the introduction of a no-till vegetable transplanter powered… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Partnerships Unit (PU), conducted Farmers' Day, a consultation and knowledge sharing for farmers and farmer communities in the Philippines, on 27 June 2024. The event showcased presentations from Philippine local government units involved in SEARCA-supported projects. Ms. Christine Pine, Provincial Agriculturist of Oriental Mindoro, highlighted the accomplishments of the Upgrading the Calamansi Value Chain towards Improving the Calamansi Industry of Oriental Mindoro project. Ms. Rhona Ornedo, staff from the Coconut Division of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Quezon Province, discussed the challenges and… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), successfully concluded the two-day Regional Stakeholders Consultation Workshop for the Consortium for Agricultural Development, Research, and Extension in Southeast Asia (CADRE). Held on 20–21 June 2024 at the SEARCA headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, and livestreamed through Zoom, the event gathered over a hundred stakeholders from Southeast Asia (SEA) to discuss establishing CADRE. It is a network of high-caliber, like-minded institutions with a unified goal of driving agricultural transformation toward sustainable and inclusive development in SEA. The… Read more

CALAMBA, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) signed a tripartite agreement with the Rotary Club of Calamba and Bahay ni Maria, a home for abandoned elderly and children with special needs in Calamba, Laguna, on 26 June 2024 to design and establish an edible garden. The agreement was signed by Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director; Engr. Federic Inion, Rotary Club of Calamba President Elect; and Sr. Ma. Immaculate Ancog, Missionary Sisters of Our Lady Fatima Center Head for Bahay ni Maria. The garden will be a sustainable source of fresh produce to… Read more

BAYOMBONG, Philippines—Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), served as the commencement speaker at the 20th Commencement Exercises of Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) held on 27 June 2024 at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center in Bayombong, the provincial capital of Nueva Vizcaya. Speaking before graduates, faculty, and guests, Dr. Gregorio emphasized the vital role that every graduate can play in addressing agricultural challenges and contributing to agricultural development, regardless of their field of study or chosen profession. In his speech, Dr. Gregorio congratulated the graduates and… Read more

New research articles published in the June 2024 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) take a peek at initiatives and the grassroots in Southeast Asia as they respond to previous food and economic shocks and their aftermath. The common themes of the seven papers in the AJAD volume 21.1 release hover around ensuring food security, future-proofing farming, creating resilient food value chains, good agricultural practices adoption, agrifood digitalization, withstanding food disruptions, building food-resilient households and communities, and sustainability of rural development. The paper "Drivers of Successful Adoption of Eco-innovation: Case Studies of Agricultural Cooperatives in Vietnam"… Read more