SEARCA in the News

Former Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Food Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will talk about leveraging the role of family farming towards more productive and resilient food systems in the Philippines on April 25, 2023 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna. The three-term senator, who also chaired the Senate committees on social justice and rural development as well as agrarian reform, will join the roster of eminent speakers at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS). Other speakers at the SEARCA ADSS include ambassadors to the Philippines, a… Read more

OFFICIALS of both the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and officials of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently met to broach areas of possible collaboration. In the meeting, Education Advisor Beatriz Jimeno-Ortas of the Embassy of Spain and SEARCA officials led by Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio explored SEARCA's programs on the internationalization of education in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Gregorio said SEARCA is mandated to produce and equip agricultural professionals in the region. Jimeno-Ortas also explored a possible partnership between SEARCA and the Green European University (UNIgreen). She said UNIgreen… Read more

THE leadership of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEACA) urged scientists and biologists to communicate, engage in friendly competition and collaborate because diversifying learners' skillsets increasingly becomes the status quo. During the recently held Fireside Chat for Alumni titled "Transcending to greater heights toward scientific progress in a Vuca society," Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEACA director, said there is a need to provide motivation, mentorship and guidance "as we maneuver in a fast-paced environment." Vuca stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambivalent. During the event, Dr. Vachel Gay Paller, University of the Philippines Los… Read more

THE Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) conducted its Lakbay Aral for graduate students at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to benchmark the center's programs and research undertakings. The BASC visitation trip on April 13, 2023 was led by Rael Tejada, BASC research office director and Federated Graduate Studies Student Association president. According to Tejada, the BASC conducted the Lakbay Aral at SEARCA to expand the graduate students' knowledge and information on Southeast Asian research outputs related to agricultural and rural development. During the benchmarking activity, the BASC denizens were welcomed by Dr… Read more

The World Bank asked the Philippine government to give incentives that will encourage the private sector to invest in climate smart agriculture and renewable energy. Presenting the Country Climate and Development Report 2022 in a forum organized by Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the World Bank said the government should raise access of climate financing to private sector.   “Public and private investments are needed to finance adaptation through climate-resilient infrastructure.  Financing mitigation measures from private sector should be incentivized by new regulatory technology-push and demand-pull policies,” said WB project leader and lead… Read more

Multilateral financier World Bank has urged the government to give incentives for investments in climate smart agriculture, renewable energy (RE) and to tap ESG (environmental, social, governance) bonds to finance climate actions countering disasters. Presenting its Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) 2022 in a forum of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), World Bank officials stressed that a government has to raise access of climate financing to private sector. That along with making investment policies for climate action attractive and encouraging access particularly to ESG bonds. “Public and private investments are needed… Read more

The major bottleneck to digitalizing agriculture is capacity-building in the communities where new technology is targeted for adoption, analysts said. “Capacity-building is always a challenge, especially when it comes to digital,” Henry James M. Sison, founder and chief farming officer of startup Agro-DigitalPH, said on Tuesday in a webinar organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. “Digital, in this context, needs to match the target locations. Adoption is on the basis of them being able to monetize what they have. You need to shepherd these communities,”… Read more

The national innovation agency of the United Kingdom along with 10 companies have expressed interest in collaborating with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on agricultural innovation and renewable energy. According to SEARCA headed by Director Glenn Gregorio, a team from Innovate UK recently explored possible areas of partnerships, discussed their respective thrusts and activities, and toured the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation called Sharing, an interactive museum of agricultural innovation. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs, presented the National Agriculture and Fishery Modernization and… Read more

OFFICIALS and faculty of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to explore partnerships, particularly in areas of faculty development, grants and trainings. The delegates headed by USM President Dr. Francisco Gil Garcia had an exploratory meeting with officials of SEARCA headed by its director, Dr. Glenn Gregprio. Together with Garcia were Prof. Marcos Monderin, the Dean of the College of Arts; Engr. Sheila Bautista, professor of mathematics; and Dr. Ronielyn Pinsoy, chancellor, from the USM-Kidapawan Campus. With the main campus in Kabacan, Cotabato in Mindanao, USM's… Read more

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will hold a roundtable series on agriculture to foster more cooperation among stakeholders in the sector. "We are excited to partner with the BSP in this initiative to promote sustainable agriculture practices in Southeast Asia. Through this roundtable series, we hope to foster greater collaboration among key stakeholders to address the challenges faced by the region's food and agriculture systems, as well as promote sustainable development in Southeast Asia," SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said. The roundtable will gather agriculture and… Read more