Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) director Dr. Glenn Gregorio was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Professional of the Year in Agriculture by the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Held on August 2, 2024, at Conrad Manila, the award ceremony honored 33 professionals across various fields, with Gregorio distinguished among eight awardees in the technology cluster.
Gregorio's nearly three-decade career has provided valuable insights and contributions to agriculture including groundbreaking advances in rice breeding at IRRI, developing over 20 rice varieties adopted in multiple countries, and breeding programs across various continents at East-West Seed Company.
His work has earned him numerous awards, including The Outstanding Young Men and Outstanding Young Scientist awards and Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh Medal Award.
He is an Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines and a United Nations Food Systems Champion.
Currently, Gregorio serves as an adjunct professor at two universities and is the outgoing president of Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO).
"As agriculturists, we must commit ourselves to enhancing the agricultural value chain—for our farmers' comfort and our consumers' well-being," Gregorio said.
This recognition underscores Gregorio's achievements and SEARCA's role in promoting agricultural innovation in Southeast Asia. His leadership continues to inspire excellence in the region's agricultural sector.