SEARCA in the News

DUE to the COVID-19 pandemic, food supply chains have undergone unprecedented stresses with bottlenecks from farm labor, processing, transport and logistics but also saw pivotal shifts in consumer demand. However, resiliency prevailed so much so that food moved to where it was needed during lockdowns. The last two years gave the world an invaluable lesson: that food security was not just about food availability, but also about access to and delivery of food from farm to table that was safe and clean. An advocate of a sustainable food supply chain has been Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) since it launched… Read more

A senior fellow of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) headquartered in the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) presented to SEARCA the concept of carbon wise rice. Dr. Eero Nissila, Finland-based Newfields Consulting Ltd. (NCL) managing director and chairman, was recently in a meeting with SEARCA management at the SEARCA headquarters to present the said CWR concepT. NCL is a company driven and owned by international consultants specializing in crop production and crop improvement systems. "Rice is the fastest-growing staple food in South Africa. It is also a… Read more

Two new learning facilities for agricultural innovation were presented to Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), during his visit to DepEd on 29 March 2022. Gregorio apprised the education chief of the soon-to-open SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING), an interactive museum, and the SEARCA iCREATE, which will provide makerspaces and a training facility for robotics, prototyping, and design thinking. Gregorio stressed that the two facilities are avenues for SEARCA to promote… Read more

Significant postharvest losses of mango, onion and tomato were bared in a recent study funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Dubbed, "Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines," the study conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) revealed the postharvest losses along the value chains of the three commodities. The results of the study were presented at a recent virtual national policy forum jointly organized by SEARCA and SyCip Gorres Velayo and Company (SGV and Co.), said a SEARCA news release. Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn Laviña for High Value… Read more

NONGOVERNMENT organization Kids Who Farm (KWH) has started luring the youth into agriculture using hydroponics technology which produces vegetables prolifically without requiring much pesticide and can grow "soil-less." During a "Pista ng Pagkain at Kabataang Pinoy" festival held by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), KWH founder Muneer Hinay said that households can significantly contribute to solving the Philippines' food security concern. "I realized that even a small child can actually propose solutions to the pressing problems of food security," said Raaina Hinay. That has been true for his family as his daughter… Read more

NONGOVERNMENT organization Kids Who Farm (KWH) is using hydroponics to lure the youth into agriculture. During the recent Pista ng Pagkain at Kabataang Pinoy festival held by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), KWH founder Muneer Hinay discussed the advantages of hydroponics in helping address food security at the local level. "In hydroponics, the plant roots absorb balanced nutrients dissolved in water that meet all the plant development requirements. The basic setup is you have a container or grow box, water inside with nutrient solution and an air space so the container is… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has partnered with local interest groups to support a feeding program that aims to improve maternal and child nutrition in Los Baños, Laguna. SEARCA joined hands with the Rotary Club of Los Baños Makiling and the Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help Los Baños (LATCH LB) to provide support to the Municipality of Los Baños through the Municipal Nutrition Action Office for the PaManna Feeding Program. LATCH is a non-profit organization that offers quality lactation education and mother-to-mother breastfeeding counseling services since 2006. SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio… Read more

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa has scheduled a week of environmental awareness activities at Robinsons Place Palawan, including the “Ginto Sa Dagta” almaciga resin gathering by the Batak. Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, City ENRO chief, who led the ceremonial ribbon cutting on Monday, emphasized the importance of the forest in maintaining life and biodiversity, food security, and wildlife habitat. The activities include exhibit display, puppet show, painting contest, and games slated from March 21-25. They are in line with the celebration of the International Day of the Forest on March 21, and World… Read more

A new study from the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has shown post-harvest loss experienced by the mango, tomato and onion industries in the Philippines. The Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project focused on the three crops given their position as staples of the Filipino diet. The study analysed the value chain of each commodity and quantified the value and volume of post-harvest loss across different domestic supply routes. For mangoes the study revealed fruit produced in the province of Iloilo and traded in Manila showed the highest post-harvest loss at 33.89 per cent, the Pangasinan-Manila… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), together with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), presented an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project titled “Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines.” Usec. Evelyn Laviña, Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines, emphasized that the three crops – onion, tomato, and mango are part of Filipino’s staple food like rice and that it should be given significant focus and funding to be utilized efficiently and contribute to the growing economy of the country… Read more