SEARCA in the News

CALLING on farming sectors to escalate their efforts in mitigating global warming's impact, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) promoted climate-mitigation agricultural initiatives during the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council's (RAFC) Sectoral Committee Meeting on Rice and Other Staples, and Youth in Agriculture and Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 4 (DA-RFO4) in Lipa City, Batangas. With the meeting serving as a consultative platform for monitoring and evaluating the progress of agricultural programs and activities, the RAFC and the DA can discuss challenges, identify opportunities and formulate resolutions and policy… Read more

THE 3rd International Conference on Rice for the Future 2024 discussed an array of topics, one of which was the solutions to salinity challenges by Glenn Gregorio, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) director. The event was organized by the Thailand Rice Science Research Hub of Knowledge, Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and National Science and Technology Development Agency. Held in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Nov. 14 to 15, the event brought together over 200 leading rice scientists, researchers and students. In his presentation, Gregorio discussed the challenges… Read more

The recent conference hosted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), underscored the critical role of community engagement and inter-sectoral collaboration in achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development. Held under the theme, "Agricultural Development for Food Security: Addressing Challenges to Technological Transformation, Sustainability, and Good Governance", the conference gathered experts to explore strategies that can address pressing challenges in agriculture. The event featured two parallel afternoon sessions, each focusing on… Read more

ADVISORY: The AJAD 20th Anniversary Seminar Series has been postponed indefinitely. The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) will celebrate its 20th year with a seminar series by authors of its anniversary issue. AJAD is a peer-reviewed journal that Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) publishes twice a year with original research and review articles, and policy briefs on a wide range of topics related to agriculture and rural development in Southeast Asia. Themed "Asian Agriculture and Development in a Dynamic and Volatile Landscape of Demands, Peoples, and Risks," AJAD's 20th anniversary issue… Read more

Deadline: January 15, 2025 Applications are open for the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Photo Contest 2024. The theme, "The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture," of the 18th Photo Contest of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), is timely as agriculture face many challenges. By 2050, the world will need to produce 70 percent more food and the demand is continuously growing as the population races toward 10 billion in 2050, says a UN report. Worldwide, around 800 million people suffer from hunger. And… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently hosted a culminating forum to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of alumni from the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)-SEARCA Local and International Graduate Scholarship Programs in livestock research and biotechnology. SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD)–Graduate Scholarships and Institutional Development Unit said the event highlighted the transformative experiences of the scholars during their graduate studies and their significant impact on their careers, the PCC and the communities they serve. In her welcome remarks, SEARCA Deputy Director for Programs Nur Azura Binti Adam expressed her deep appreciation… Read more

IN strengthening the rice supply chain, Director Glenn Gregorio of the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said the center "embraces sustainability and technology to transform the rice supply chain toward greater resilience and transparency." Gregorio served as a panel discussant during the "Sustainability and Technology in the Rice Supply Chain" session of the 2024 International World Rice Conference (IWRC) Summit held on Nov. 5 to 7 at the Conrad Hotel Manila in Pasay City. "By integrating sustainable practices and advanced technology, stakeholders can better navigate climate impacts, secure food supply and… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has officially opened its 18th annual photo contest and invites photographers across Southeast Asia to capture compelling images related to the theme "The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture." Launched on 18 November 2024, this year's edition of the competition seeks photographs that showcase innovative and sustainable agricultural practices in the Southeast Asia. "SEARCA is looking for impactful images that demonstrate practical solutions to the challenges faced by farmers in Southeast Asia while promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable farming methods," said Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Center… Read more

A recent conference organised by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the importance of community involvement and inter-sectoral collaboration in addressing food security and sustainable agricultural development in the Philippines. Held under the theme "Agricultural Development for Food Security: Addressing Challenges to Technological Transformation, Sustainability, and Good Governance", the event gathered experts to discuss strategies for overcoming challenges in agriculture. The conference included two parallel sessions focusing on financial access… Read more

As a major developing economy grappling with surging rice prices, the Philippines faces mounting challenges in securing access to affordable, nutritious food from indigenous sources amid shrinking farms. While easing rice prices in the domestic market, the rice tariffication law firmed up the country's dependence on imported grains. The law slashed tariffs on the staple food from 35 percent to 15 percent through 2028 to ease the country's inflation woes. Players in the agriculture sector said the law has benefitted, thus far, foreign producers such as Vietnam and leaves Filipino farmers struggling to compete. Rice makes up nine percent of… Read more