THE Los Baños, Laguna-based Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) held a leadership transition on March 24, marking the end of Glenn Gregorio's tenure as center director from 2019 to 2025.
Leah Lyn Domingo, SEARCA Partnership Unit public relations specialist, said SEARCA hosted a leadership turnover ceremony to officially mark the transition of leadership from Gregorio to Mercedita Agcaoili-Sombilla as the new center director, whose term of office began on April 1.
Sombilla, formerly an undersecretary at the National Economic and Development Authority, becomes the first woman to serve as the head of SEARCA.
As a center of excellence under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), SEARCA serves the 11 SEAMEO member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Domingo said Gregorio's stewardship strengthened the center's role as a key driver of agricultural and rural development across Southeast Asia.
"Dr. Gregorio's vision steered the Center toward advancements in academic programs, digital transformation and international partnerships with a focus on addressing critical issues such as food security, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture," Domingo said, adding that the director's tenure saw a significant expansion of SEARCA's academic footprint.
Gregorio championed graduate education, supporting countless master's and PhD students through 14 joint programs with research institutions and leading universities across Asia and Europe. Enhanced scholarship benefits and the establishment of the prestigious Outstanding SEARCA Scholar Award attracted and recognized top academic talent.
Recognizing the need for regional intellectual contributions, Gregorio launched 24 regional professorial grants to promote innovation in education and research in critical areas like food security and climate resilience.
Domingo added that under Gregorio's tenure, the Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (Level UP HEI AFAR) Project funded by the Commission on Higher Education empowered 612 faculty members from 60 universities and strengthened them in terms of securing millions in funding, including grants for future-proof agriculture initiatives, publishing research, institutionalizing policies and forging vital networks.
Level UP HEI AFAR mobility activities led to many memorandums of understanding with international universities, curriculum enhancements, new extension programs and even the addition of overseas mentors as adjunct faculty at Philippine higher educational institutions.
SEARCA's global network experienced remarkable growth under Gregorio.
Domingo said the SEARCA-established Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) expanded from nine to 16 member universities, spanning Asia, Canada and Germany, which "fostered unprecedented research mobility and academic collaboration."
Initiatives like the Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC) Project, supported by Erasmus+, and the UC Young Researcher Grant provided vital support to early-career researchers.
SEARCA also played a crucial role in shaping regional policy, contributing to the development of key frameworks such as the ASEAN Guidelines for Digital Technologies in Agriculture and the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture, both endorsed by ASEAN Ministers. Strategic road maps for key commodities like maize, pulses and processed pork were also developed and directly benefited stakeholders in the region, particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Domingo said digital learning and knowledge-sharing were prioritized through the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagement or SOLVE webinar series, reaching over 28,000 participants across 29 countries. To engage the next generation in agriculture, initiatives such as the Youth Forces for Agricultural Innovation or #Y4AGRI and the Young Agripreneurs Building Opportunities, Nurturing Growth or YABONG Bootcamp were launched.
Gregorio's leadership sparked a wave of support for agricultural innovation that empowered researchers, entrepreneurs and young agripreneurs across Southeast Asia.
Domingo said the center awarded $350,000 under the Grants for Research toward Agriculture Innovation Solutions or GRAINS to 29 projects in eight countries that fueled the development, testing and scaling of innovative prototypes in digital agriculture, artificial intelligence and circular farming.
Gregorio also championed agri-enterprise incubation as exemplified by the Accelerating ACT program in Cambodia and the multi-country Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Accelerator to bridge market gaps through mentorship and diagnostics.
Domingo added that Gregorio's focus on strengthening SEARCA's operational backbone, cloud-based systems, agile policies and robust financial management were implemented and resulted in high budget utilization and positive audit results.
"A strong emphasis was placed on staff development, with wellness programs, leadership coaching and career development opportunities introduced," she said.
Gregorio's leadership and contributions also earned him international acclaim while at the helm of SEARCA, including recognition as one of the 2024 World's Top two percent Scientists list by Stanford University and the 2024 Outstanding Professional of the Year in Agriculture awarded by the Professional Regulation Commission.