SEARCA in the News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) kicks off the implementation of its 11th Five-Year Plan (11FYP) beginning this month. This sets out the principles and objectives that will guide SEARCA as it moves towards ATTAIN, which means “Accelerating Transformation Though Agricultural Innovation.” SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio said their new development strategy was shaped by its desire to contribute to the transformation of farmers who are stuck in the belief that farming is limited to production, into new farmers operating in a modern agriculture ecology, that is Agriculture 4.0. For their 11FYP… Read more

AN inter-government treaty organization focusing on agriculture research kicked off the implementation of its 11th five-year plan to push agricultural innovation in a new development strategy shaped after consulting its partners, alumni, staff and external stakeholders. According to Glenn Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), the new strategic plan sets out the principles and objectives that will guide the organization as it moves toward Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (Attain). “Our new development strategy was shaped by Searca’s desire to contribute to the transformation of farmers, who are stuck [with]… Read more

The Local government units (LGUs) are expected to lead the way in terms of implementing the government’s urban agriculture push, which aims to encourage households to grow their own food. “LGUs are in a strategic position to perform a catalytic role in promoting urban agriculture,” the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said in a policy paper on policy imperatives to promote urban agriculture among local government units in the Philippines. The policy paper is jointly authored by Rico C. Ancog and Glenn B. Gregorio of SEARCA and the University of the Philippines Los… Read more

The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) forged partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Southern Agro Export Corporation (SAGREX) to intensify the promotion of its Urban Agriculture Program.Agriculture Secretary William Dar, together with SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio and SAGREX Vice President for Sales and Marketing Anthony Gerald Maranon, led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. “We should bring in partners from the private sector in promoting and pursuing the Urban Agriculture Program so that we can make a difference in a big way… Read more

Local government units (LGUs) are in a strategic position to perform the role of catalyst in promoting urban agriculture. This was asserted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) in its policy paper on policy imperatives to promote urban agriculture among LGUs. The policy paper was co-authored by Rico Ancog of the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Searca Director Glenn Gregorio; Sta. Rosa City Rep. Arlene Arcillas; Erlinda Creencia of the Santa Rosa City government, Victorino Aquitania of the Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability-Southeast Asia; Department of Agriculture-Bureau of… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is pushing for clustering of small farms to help ASEAN farmers overcome low and inconsistent-quality yield, scattered production, high transaction costs, and poor access to markets. In a policy paper, SEARCA recommended agricultural clusters as a strategic approach “to operationalize the appropriate channels at a scale necessary for it to have enhanced competitive strength to connect with national and international markets.” Co-authors of the paper pointed out that an agricultural cluster is effective when there is a strong market connection and value-adding networks as a result of… Read more

Los Banos, Laguna­—The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture here have formalized their partnership in establishing gardens under the DA-BPI Urban Agriculture Program. This was contained in an agreement signed on June 22 at the DA main office in Quezon City, with signatories Agriculture Secretary William Dar and SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio. The DA-BPI is leading the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program “as one of the modalities that renders safe food available, accessible, and affordable while providing additional income to households and communities in urban areas.”… Read more

To intensify the promotion of its Urban Agriculture Program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) forged partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Southern Agro Export Corporation (SAGREX) on June 22, 2020. Agriculture Secretary William Dar, together with SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio and SAGREX Vice President for Sales and Marketing Anthony Gerald Maranon, led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. “We should bring in partners from the private sector in promoting and pursuing the Urban Agriculture Program so that we can make a… Read more

The Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) have formalized their partnership in establishing gardens under the DA-BPI Urban Agriculture Program in an agreement signed on 22 June 2020 at the DA Main Office in Quezon City. Signatories to the memorandum of agreement are Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio. The DA-BPI is leading the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Program “as one of the modalities that renders safe food available, accessible, and affordable while providing additional income to… Read more

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, June 22 (PIA) --The Integrated Urban Agriculture Act (HB 3412) has been approved by the House Committee on Agriculture last June 17. HB 3412 seeks to promote an integrated urban agriculture to address food security problems affecting the country, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill’s author, Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, said HB 3412 intends to address the serious food security problem by introducing “game-changing solutions” that include “maximizing available spaces and utilizing emerging agricultural technologies and methods.” “Local government units (LGUs) are in a strategic position to perform a catalytic role in… Read more