SEARCA in the News

For several years, biotechnology has been demonized in this country, its reputation ruined by fears that it is actually genetic engineering (GE), with plant and animal breeders conspiring to produce Frankenstein crops and monster animals that would prey on humans, just like the Democrats who feast on the innards and blood of children via the most credible source of info on this planet: Qanon. In a post-truth world dominated by shared psychosis, facts no longer matter, and the truth is muscled out of the way by the purveyors of superstition and their acolytes in the shackled press, social media and… Read more

Sa pagtutulungan ng South East Asian Ministers of education Organization (SEAMEO), South East Asian Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Department of Agriculture, Science Communicators Philippines at Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines ginanap nitong nakaraang September 8, 2023 sa SEARCA Drilon hall, Los Banos Laguna ang “What’s Up, “B” Conversations with the Media on the Status of Philippine Ag-Biotech. Isang hybrievent kung saan ang ibang partisipante ay nakikibahagi via Zoom at ang iba ay on site. Binuksan ng aktibidad sa pabibigay ng pambungad na pananalita ni SEARCA Executive Director Dr. Glen Gregorio via Zoom. Si Dr. Rhodora… Read more

Dr. Rhodora Romero-Aldemita (right), International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications executive director, discusses the status of agricultural biotechnology at SEARCA (Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture) main office building, Los Baños, Laguna on Friday (Sept. 8, 2023). Aldemita said agri-biotech is already in the curriculum of the University of the Philippines system while other schools want it as a major in their agriculture course while other like-minded agencies are working together to conduct activities and produce knowledge products for the youth. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)… Read more

THE leadership of the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) rallied the importance of values and character education during the 2023 commencement exercises at Cavite State University (CvSU) College of Arts and Sciences. SEARCA director Dr. Glenn Gregorio served as the guest of honor and speaker during the 112th Commencement Exercises of the CvSU College of Arts and Sciences at the university's International Convention Center on August 23, 2023. Gregorio delivered his speech emphasizing the crucial role of agriculture in sustainable development and how it interlaced with diverse fields and helped shape… Read more

TO explore and discuss possible areas for collaboration on agricultural research and innovation, Mapua University, led by its President and Chief Executive Officer Dodjie Maestrecampo, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Joining Maestrecampo in his August 22 visit were Mapua School of Graduate Studies Dean Jonathan Salvacion; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Dean Aldrin Calderon; and School of Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering faculty member Febus Reidj Cruz. They were welcomed by SEARCA director Dr. Glen Gregorio, with Dr. Nur Azura Adam, deputy director for programs; Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, Education… Read more

THE Department of Education (DepEd) Division Office in Rizal together with educators and officers from 11 schools have completed the Training on School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) held online and onsite in Los Baños, Laguna and Pililla, Rizal from August 7 to 11, 2023. The SEL4E training led by the Training for Development Unit under the Education and Collective Learning Department of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) aimed to build the capacities of the 36 participants as channels of knowledge and values formation in schools and their communities. A multistakeholder project… Read more

THE Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently held a forum on Breeding Innovations for Increasing Productivity and Climate Resilience in Crops and Livestock as part of SEARCA's efforts to expand the knowledge of the youth on agricultural biotechnology (agribiotech). Held on August 15 at SEARCA's headquarters on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the public seminar was conducted together with the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) Manila and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Inc. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, said… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the East-West Seed Philippines (EWPH) have signed an agreement to train young farmers in vegetable farming and agri-entrepreneurship. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, signed the memorandum of agreement (MoA) with East-West Seed for the project titled "Yabong," or Young Agripreneurs Building Opportunities, Nurturing Growth Bootcamp, that also intends to showcase stories of young agri-entrepreneurs to inspire more of the youth to engage in vegetable farming. The MoA was signed at the East-West Seed Hortanova Research Center in Lipa City, Batangas, with the seed company represented by General… Read more

THE Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) conducted its annual UC Summer School in Thailand empowering sustainable agricultural solutions in difficult environments. The Summer School which took place from July 24 to 4 August 4, 2023 at Kasetsart University (KU) Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus marked the seventh installment of the learning event which brought together 28 delegates from UC member universities. These universities include IPB University, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Universitas Brawijaya from Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia; Kasetsart University and Maejo University from Thailand; Tokyo NODAI from Japan; National Taiwan University; University… Read more

FOUNDED by Joseph Navasero, Insiklo is a startup venture that is turning market and household wastes into feed and fertilizer with the aid of the insect called black soldier fly (BSF). According to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), about 500 kilograms of market waste from Los Baños municipality in Laguna province are sent every week to the Insiklo facility. Then the larvae of BSF devour food scrap, agricultural debris and manure, reducing the waste volume and odor into a nutrient-rich compost for use as organic fertilizer on crops. The mature larvae are… Read more