SEARCA in the News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Philippines, and Rome-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) organized the High-Level Policy Forum on Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Pathways, Policies, and Prospects to be held on 8-9 September 2022 at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City and via Zoom. According to SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio, the hybrid event will convene stakeholders from relevant Philippine government agencies, development and research organizations and think tanks, civil society and farmers organizations, the academe, and the private sector to discuss the state of rural… Read more

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has discussed partnerships with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to accelerate technological innovations to boost farm productivity. Dr. Remy Bitoun, IRRI tech transfer head, during his visit to SEARCA on Aug. 30, 2022, emphasized the importance of partnerships between IRRI and private sector companies to leverage intellectual property innovations. Bitoun said he looks forward to collaborating with SEARCA to accelerate technological innovations in particular technology transfer mechanisms. Citing partnership with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the center recognizes collaboration with… Read more

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has announced the availability of 15 scholarship grants at the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (GCI) Post Graduate Scholarship for Academic Year 2023-2024, according to Romblon State University President Dr. Merian Catajay-Mani. CGI is a private graduate institution established in 2005, to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 48th Birthday of Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol. It aims to employ recent interactive teaching techniques used in leading educational and research institutions to provide effective thinkers and leaders. With the approval of the Ministry of Education, it was officially established as an autonomous higher… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Philippines, and Rome-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) organized the High-Level Policy Forum on Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Pathways, Policies, and Prospects to be held on 8-9 September 2022 at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City and via Zoom. According to SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio, the hybrid event will convene stakeholders from relevant Philippine government agencies, development and research organizations and think tanks, civil society and farmers organizations, the academe, and the private sector to discuss the state of rural… Read more

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Franciso Benitez has proposed a law that will create agricultural trading centers to be known as “Bagsakan ng Bayan Market” in every province. House Bill (HB) 4303, filed by Benitez on Wednesday afternoon, cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to strengthen agriculture and pledged higher investments in infrastructure in the agricultural value chain to increase productivity and profits. “This presidential pronouncement signals continuity in government policy to facilitate and enhance access of farmers and fisherfolk to markets,” the lawmaker said in the bill’s explanatory note. He noted that the President recognized in… Read more

TO enhance the capacities of halal professionals, practitioners and policymakers in Southeast Asia, a training workshop was held at Universiti Putra Malaysia-Halal Products Research Institute (UPM-HPRI), according to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The University of the Philippines Los Baños-headquartered SEARCA said the Regional Training-Workshop on Halal Slaughtering and Certification was in partnership with the UPM-HPRI which was conducted in Putrajana, Malaysia on August 23 to 25, 2022. This training workshop was also participated by other key players and stakeholders on halal slaughtering and certification to increase the exchange of knowledge and… Read more

A PHILIPPINE government-hosted inter-government treaty organization continues to offer the Basic English Course (BEC) for scholars which aims to enhance their proficiency in the language. According to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the course is to encourage SEARCA scholars under diverse scholarship programs to be more comfortable in using the language in preparation for their studies. Offered annually, SEARCA said the course also contributes to building the capacity of individual scholars and their home institutions as part of accelerating transformation through agricultural innovation. poster SEARCA said BEC is part of a broader… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) commended 34 scholars who completed their graduate studies in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 through a testimonial ceremony on August 4, 2022. SEARCA said these were 24 full Master of Science (MS) and 10 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) scholars. Out of the 24 full scholars, eight were supported by SEARCA's collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD, Nagoya University in Japan and the Philippine Carabao Center. At the SEARCA headquarters on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, 12 scholars together with their… Read more

The Asian Development Bank commissioned the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study & Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) for a 10-year plan to turn the Philippines into a major agricultural producer. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, said the plan will require a budget of P5.03 trillion that will come from both the public and private sectors. He added the National Agriculture and Fisheries Organization and Industrialization Plan has an indicative implementation schedule of 2021 to 2030. The recommendations, submitted to the Department of Agriculture, include: the consolidation of production and post-harvest facilities; construction of critical infrastructures spatially integrated within agri-fisheries industrial… Read more

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has commissioned the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study & Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) for a 10-year plan with an aim to catapult the Philippines to be a major agricultural producer, probably a farm produce exporter. This endeavor apparently aligns with the pronouncements of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. about the Philippines’ pursuing food security aims, even agriculture modernization, having himself taken on the task as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).  SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio told a press orientation that the “National Agriculture and Fisheries Organization and Industrialization Plan” has… Read more