SEARCA in the News

ASEAN climate leaders face the challenge of countries in the region being vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change due to their long coastlines, dependency on agriculture and forestry, and land-use sectors. As a response, the ASEAN Climate Leadership Program, on its third run (ACLP 3), recognizes the importance of strengthening leadership in climate change dialogue at the international level. ACLP 3 officially started with its opening session and first module lectures held virtually from Jan. 22 to 23. This six-month program is designed to increase knowledge, strengthen skills and foster attitude shifts in leadership, particularly in the thematic… Read more

TAIWANESE and Filipino "Project Lakbay" fellows visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) for an enriching cultural and academic exchange on Feb. 6, 2025. Lakbay stands for Learning Actively through Knowledge-Based Appreciation for Youth. The visit of the 19 fellows, together with the University of the Philippines Open University-Faculty of Management and Development Studies (UPOU-FMDS) and Edu-Connect Southeast Asian Association-Kaohsiung officials and staff, was under the International University Social Responsibility or IUSR framework, which aims to emphasize sustainability and the vital inclusion of youth voices in the development plans. "Project Lakbay" is a… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has collaborated with the Postgraduate Micro-Credentials in Food Security and Climate Change (PMCFSCC) Project and the Regional SEARCA Alumni Association (RSAA) in organizing a conference on food security and resilience to climate change in Thailand on Feb. 10 to 12, 2025. Titled "Innovation Meets Education: Building Pathways for Food Security and Resilience to Climate Change," the event showcased the research achievements of 13 selected SEARCA scholars and alumni for the Academic Year 2024-2025. Held at the Amari Hotel in Pattaya, Chonburi province, it was a back-to-back conference… Read more

THE Philippine government hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Calauan Sub-office and the Calauan local government to launch the Project OSEL, or Oplan School Edible Landscaping. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said this initiative aims to strengthen schools in Calauan, Laguna, by promoting sustainable practices such as establishing edible gardens. Gregorio said the project seeks to enhance environmental awareness, promote sustainable agriculture and contribute to food security within the educational community by integrating edible landscaping. During the opening program for the project held last January, Mylene Gutierrez, principal… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has been commissioned to lead the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP). A DA flagship program initiated in 2014, the PRDP was intended to increase rural incomes, modernize the agri-fishery sector and establish climate-resilient and market-oriented investments. After over a decade of the project's implementation, the SEARCA-led evaluation seeks to assess the program's performance, measure its impact on beneficiaries and generate evidence-based recommendations to guide the next phase of the PRDP and similar future initiatives. On Jan. 22, the kick-off meeting for the… Read more

SAMPALOC, Quezon - Young agricultural enthusiasts recently gained firsthand experience in agroentrepreneurship at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna. Seventeen students pursuing an Agroentrepreneurship National Certificate 2, along with three trainers from BB Agriventures OPC Farm School, visited SEARCA to learn about ongoing projects and initiatives. SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, Associate Professor Joselito Florendo, welcomed the group, emphasizing the importance of supporting and educating the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. BB Agriventures OPC Farm School, located in Sampaloc, Quezon, focuses on organic agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. As a… Read more

SOUTHEAST Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) welcomed 17 Agroentrepreneurship National Certificate 2 students and three BB Agriventures OPC Farm School trainers on Jan. 21, 2025. SEARCA deputy director for administration associate professor Joselito Florendo said these farm school students visited SEARCA to learn about the center's agroentrepreneurship projects. BB Agriventures OPC Farm School is an integrated farm focusing on organic agriculture and sustainable livelihood in Sampaloc, Quezon, Philippines. It is a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or Tesda partner in implementing scholarship programs on national certificates on agroentrepreneurship, agricultural crop production and organic… Read more

Los Baños, Laguna – Ipinagdiwang ng Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), ang internasyonal na peer-reviewed na siyentipikong journal ng Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), ang ika-20 anibersaryo sa pamamagitan ng isang seminar tungkol sa seguridad sa pagkain at katatagan ng agrikultura sa harap ng pabago-bagong hamon sa sektor. Sa temang AJAD@20, itinampok sa seminar ang espesyal na anibersaryong edisyon ng journal na pinamagatang "Asian Agriculture and Development in a Dynamic and Volatile Landscape of Demands, Peoples, and Risks." Ito ay ginanap noong Pebrero 3, 2025 (Lunes) sa SEARCA Umali Auditorium, at… Read more

The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) commemorated its 20th anniversary with a grand ceremony on February 3, 2025, at the SEARCA Umali Auditorium, SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. The event gathered distinguished policymakers, academicians, industry leaders, researchers, and representatives from agricultural organizations, celebrating two decades of significant contributions to agricultural research and development in Asia. Since its inception in 2004, AJAD has served as a key platform for disseminating research, policy discussions, and sustainable agricultural innovations. It has significantly contributed to scientific knowledge in areas such as food security, rural development, climate change, agribusiness, and technological advancements in… Read more

Asian journal marks 20 years, navigates a changing agricultural landscape SEARCA tapped to lead PH rural dev’t project evaluation SEARCA chief rallies new agriculturists ahead of new PH Agri Act Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center Director and the 2024 Outstanding Professional of the Year in Agriculture, speaks to newly licensed agriculturists at their oath-taking ceremony on 20 January 2025. Inset shows the newly licensed agriculturists taking their oath at the event organized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Asian journal marks 20 years, navigates a changing agricultural landscape The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), the internationally peer-reviewed scientific… Read more