SEARCA News

"It was all about creating added value for the farmer. And this is really the heart of the matter for serious seeds people: how can we create added value for the farmers." These were the words of Dr. Simon N. Groot, the 2019 World Food Prize laureate, at his commencement address during the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) graduation rites held on 22 June 2019 where he was also conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his outstanding achievement in his field and exemplary service to his fellowmen. On the other hand, the World Food… Read more

GWANGJU, Korea – The Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO) has elected Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), as its President from 2019 to 2023 during the 2019 International Conference on Plant Breeding for Sustainable Development held here on 2-5 July 2019. Dr. Gregorio succeeded Prof. Dr. Sang-Nag Ahn of Chungnam National University, South Korea. SABRAO is an international society dedicated to basic and applied aspects of breeding research in economically important plants. Formed in 1968—at a time when many countries… Read more

CENTRAL LUZON, Philippines – The stakeholders of the project Upgrading the Calamansi Value Chain towards Improving the Calamansi Industry of Oriental Mindoro participated in the ‘Lakbay-aral’ organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) on 24–27 June 2019. This educational trip was joined by the calamansi farmers and the representatives of the local government units (LGU) of Naujan, Pola, and Victoria, together with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) of Oriental Mindoro. The team visited the citrus germplasm collection in Nueva Vizcaya State… Read more

Dr. Weerapon Thongma, Acting President of Maejo University, Thailand, challenged fellow graduates of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to become leaders of their institutions during the UPLB Graduate School Hooding and Recognition Ceremonies held on 21 June 2019. The ceremony was attended by 358 master's and doctoral students, one day before receiving their graduate degrees at the 47th UPLB Commencement Exercises. An alumnus also of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) under the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)-SEARCA scholarship which supported his PhD (extension education) study at UPLB, Dr. Weerapon… Read more

INCHEON, South Korea – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), which manages the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) Strategic Response Fund [ASRF], organized the session on Youth and Gender Inclusion in Forestry under Stream 2: People and Forests Living in Harmony in the Asia Pacific Forestry Week 2019 (APFW 2019) which was held in Incheon, South Korea on 17-21 June 2019. The APFW 2019 was jointly organized and hosted by the Korea Forest Service and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head for… Read more

INCHEON, South Korea – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its administration of the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) Strategic Response Fund (ASRF), has awarded travel grants to Mr. Long Ratanakoma of Cambodia, Dr. Tuti Herawati of Indonesia, and Dr. Ei Ei Swe Hlaing of Myanmar. The ASRF travel grantees participated in the Asia Pacific Forestry Week (APFW) 2019 in Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon, Korea on 17-21 June 2019. The grants are awarded as part of the initiative to disseminate scientific knowledge vital to social forestry and the interrelated issues of… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - SEARCA, in partnership with the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), conducted the training on Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Technologies and Enterprises for the third batch of participants on 3-7 June 2019 at the SEARCA Headquarters.  A total of 46 selected personnel from state universities and colleges (SUCs), local government units (LGUs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), DA regional offices, and DA-BAR participated in the training. The training aimed to provide knowledge and improve the skills of the research personnel from various academic and research institutions in conducting financial viability and profitability analysis… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), exhorted the University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Crop Science (UPLB ICropS) graduating class of 2019 to step up and step out as they move forward after graduation. Occasion was the UPLB ICropS Class of 2019 Testimonial and Recognition Ceremonies held on 20 June 2019 at its premises.  Dr. Gregorio said UPLB has equipped them to make a difference in their chosen field. But he was quick to point out that stepping up and stepping… Read more

During the Hooding and Recognition Ceremonies of the UPLB Graduate School held last 21 June, Mr. Gerald M. Salas was among the recipients of the Academic Achievement award for PhD graduates. He was also recognized by the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) as their Top 1 PhD Environmental Science graduate.  At the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf), Ms. Imelda Grace Siregar, an Indonesian PhD Agricultural Education graduate, received the Academic Achievement Award for garnering the highest General Weighted Average (GWA) among CPAf graduates. Also from CPAf, PhD Development Studies graduate, Ms. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda garnered… Read more

Thirty-four (34) SEARCA scholars from eight (8) SEAMEO member countries completed their degrees during this Fiscal Year 2018-2019. These scholars were recognized in a Testimonial Program held on 20 June 2019 at the SEARCA Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna Philippines. Two other grantees of the University Consortium also attended the Testimonial, which was also witnessed by family and friends of the graduates as well as all SEARCA staff.  Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, enjoined the graduates to be at the forefront of development. He also challenged them to step up and step out. Dr. Gregorio emphasized, "It means not… Read more