SEARCA in the News

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), an inter-government treaty organization hosted by the Philippine government, conducted a training workshop on internal quality assurance (IQA) for higher education institution (HEI) leaders and officers of the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Cambodia. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the training held at Kampot City from May 22 to 25, 2023 was participated by vice-rectors, deans and officers of various faculties and the IQA office of RUA. Gregorio said the activity aimed to build the capacities of focal points and internal assessors on the IQA… Read more

The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will help develop edible landscaping in Cambodia with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN) of the Royal University of Agriculture. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, said a training held at the CE-SAIN Agricultural Technology Park (ATP) in Siem Reap, Cambodia from May 23-25, 2023 aimed to inspire and motivate students about the science and art of crop production through school gardening. Gregorio said five partner high schools in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap sent at least 20 high school teachers… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched an agriculture talk show to stimulate the youth's general perception of agriculture as a field integrated into the basic education curricula, specifically in science subjects. The pilot episode of the "Youth in Agri Talk Show" titled "Agri 101 for the Youth" discussed farming practices on crop planting and crop rotation, planting methods such as hydroponic farming, and the difference between tissue-cultured seedlings and genetically modified plants. These topics were among the salient subjects inquired about by John Dominic Canato, Reese Kaitlin Evangelista, Chloe Gabriel Badulis and… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) is supporting the development of a roadmap for the coconut industry of Quezon province. Searca convened industry stakeholders last May for the project titled "Development of the Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon" aimed at gathering inputs and recommendations for the province's coconut industry roadmap. The collaborative activity was organized by Searca, the Quezon Provincial Government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region 4A. with support from the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) in Calabarzon… Read more

An alumna of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) shared a study on purple passion fruit on May 26, 2023. Dr. Shahidah binti Md. Nor, also a senior lecturer at the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, delivered the seminar "Physical and metabolomics approaches of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) during growth and development" which is part of her dissertation requirements. Hosted by SEARCA through its Education and Collective Learning Department, the special graduate seminar is held once every semester which highlights SEARCA scholars' outstanding research outputs from their graduate theses. Dr. Glenn… Read more

MAEJO University (MJU) in Chiang Mai, Thailand hosted the 8th UC Graduate Forum on agriculture sustainability on May 18 and 19, 2023, according to Philippine-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the forum themed "Future of Agriculture Sustainability: Organic Intelligent Agriculture" was jointly organized with the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), for which the SEARCA serves as secretariat. Dr. Weerapon Thongma, MJU president and a SEARCA alumnus, thanked UC for accepting MJU as a new member and enabling MJU to… Read more

A professor of Isabela State University (ISU) is among the five outstanding academic experts from various universities in Southeast Asia to receive the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Regional Professorial Chair Grant (RPCG). SEARCA has announced the appointment of ISU Vice President Dr. Orlando Balderama for Research and Extension together with four other Southeast Asian professors for Academic Year 2023-2024. All entitled to a grant of $5,000 each, the other grantees are Dr. He Jie, associate professor at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; Dr. Suporn Thongyuan, assistant professor at the Kasetsart University… Read more

A recent workshop held here has set the stage for the development of a comprehensive roadmap that aims to shape the future of Quezon province’s coconut industry. Held on 16-17 May 2023, the workshop was jointly organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Provincial Government of Quezon through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region IV. In attendance were 40 representatives from DA, DA-ATI CALABARZON, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Quezon, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Quezon, National Dairy Authority (NDA), Local Government… Read more

More than 100 experts and partners working in the agri-food sector gathered in a Roundtable Discussion Series on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems in Southeast Asia, jointly organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), a SEARCA news release said. The event brought together industry leaders, experts and stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States who shared experiences and insights in promoting digital technologies, carbon farming in agriculture, and climate-smart innovations in the food and agriculture sectors. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and… Read more

Foreigners usually think of the Philippines as a place of dreamy golden beaches, shimmering azure waters, blue skies and gently swaying palms. But there is a new wave in tourism across the country – especially for those interested in sustainability. Farm tourism has become the new norm in travel. The Republic Act No. 10816, otherwise known as the Farm Tourism Development Act, defines farm tourism as “the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes.” As a reason to visit, it is becoming increasingly popular in the country. The activities vary, depending on… Read more