SEARCA in the News

REAFFIRMING its commitment to furthering agricultural development in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) renewed its joint scholarship partnership with the National Taiwan University (NTU) International College for the Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science (Global ATGS) program. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global ATGS aims to empower Southeast Asian scholars by pursuing graduate studies under the Master Program in Global ATGS. Gregorio said the program, which is conducted in English, has a comprehensive curriculum on smart farming technology, genome science research and breeding science… Read more

Dr Mirjam Roeder who is based at the University's Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) is collaborating with the UK company Straw Innovations Ltd, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Koolmill Systems Ltd to showcase their research. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) states that rice is the number one food crop globally and 91% of it is produced and consumed in Asia. As a crop it is responsible for 48% of global crop emissions and for every kilogram of rice, a kilo of straw is produced. Across Asia 300 million tonnes of… Read more

AIMING to attain food and nutrition security, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is holding the Second International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE2) from November 14-17, 2023 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. "SHGBEE2 will be a venue to discuss lessons, impact stories, strategies, issues, and challenges related to nurturing healthy, biodiverse and entrepreneurial communities," SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said. He said the event is expected to contribute to a better understanding of SHGBEE as an opportune entry point for schoolchildren, the youth and local communities "to be mindful… Read more

KABANKALAN CITY— The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has partnered with the Central Philippines State University and the Kansas State University to convene the Second International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE2) in this city on 14-17 November 2023. Over a hundred teachers and researchers from local schools and higher education institutions, policymakers and other government staff, and partners from the private sector and nongovernmental organizations in the Philippines and neighboring countries are expected to participate in the conference. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director of SEARCA, said SHGBEE2 will… Read more

The following link will take you to INQUIRER.net: Non-inclusive economic growthhttps://opinion.inquirer.net/168079/non-inclusive-economic-growth… Read more

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga,Philippines — The government is stepping up efforts to encourage the Filipino youth to engage in agriculture. The Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, has partnered with volunteer organization Kiwanis International for the establishment and maintainance of a campsite at the FutureRice Farm in Nueva Ecija. The camp is expected to attract the youth to engage in farming as most farmers today are aging. Glenda Hufano, governor of the Kiwanis International-Philippine Luzon district, said on Friday that the project aims to educate children not only about rice, but also to raise them… Read more

"Philippine cashew farmers are burdened with a low return on capital for their work. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture [SEARCA] and the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Agricultural Research [DA-BAR] partly attribute this to the underutilization of the components of the cashew fruit," said Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. in his message at the conference themed "Advancing Cashew Industry through Green Technology" held last November 3 at a hotel in Makati. Convened by the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute, the conference is a culminating activity of the DOST and the… Read more

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is strengthening efforts to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture. In partnership with two clubs of global volunteer organization Kiwanis International, the PhilRice will establish and maintain a campsite at the FutureRice Farm in Nueva Ecija province in a bid to attract the younger generations to get involved in farming, noting that most farmers at present are already ageing. Glenda Hufano, governor of Kiwanis International-Philippine Luzon District, said on Friday that the project aims to educate children not only about rice but also to raise… Read more

CASHEW farmers in the Philippines must learn how to utilize the fruit's flesh to boost their income, a study of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Agricultural Research and Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture said. The results of the study were shared by Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum in his message during the Advancing Cashew Industry through Green Technology conference held in Dusit Thani Manila on November 3. Convened by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute, the conference is a culminating activity of the DOST-Ministry of Science and Technology China project titled… Read more

The government should explore the potential of cashew fruits to improve farmers' incomes, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said. SEARCA in a study funded by the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Agricultural Research, said cashew apple's flesh is currently underutilized even if it constitutes 90 percent of the fruit. SEARCA said this is because focus has only been given to cashew nuts, particularly in Palawan which is the country's leading producer of the crop. The study titled Technology and Investment Profile of Cashew Products said by-products like wine, prunes, jelly, jam… Read more