SEARCA in the News

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna: The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is in search of images that show agricultural technologies and practices that help abate climate change and promote less pressure on natural resources for its 17th annual photo contest. SEARCA director Dr. Glenn Gregorio noted that for its 17th year, the center is zooming in with the theme "Regenerating agri-ecosystems, lowering global boiling," in its effort to highlight technologies and practices in agriculture that help mitigate worsening effects of climate change. Gregorio mentioned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when the latter alerted the public on… Read more

The Philippines has lost $552 million in cash outflows as foreign equity abandoned the local bourse in nine months, and such loss of foreign exchange doesn't bode well for the financial system that Bangko Sentral Gov. Eli Remolona Jr. is sworn to defend. This development is a bad sign for the government, which has to issue short-term and medium-term bonds to generate cash to pay its monthly debt bill of P100 billion. Yet, the much-heralded Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) also contributed to the drain of the public treasury as both Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) paid… Read more

A new project was initiated by Asian research and development agencies in order to enhance climate resilience in agriculture, natural resources and ecosystems in the Philippines. Being led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the project is in collaboration with Niras Asia Manila Inc. and the International Centre for Environmental Management. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, and titled "Accelerating Climate Resilience in Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Project," the initiative aims to advance the Philippine government's climate resilience reform agenda under the Climate Change Action Program (CCAP). The project kicked… Read more

A NEW project that will enhance climate resilience in agriculture, natural resources and ecosystems in the Philippines is being led by the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Officially titled "Accelerating Climate Resilience in Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Project," this initiative aims to advance the government's climate resilience reform agenda under the Climate Change Action Program (CCAP). The project brought together 47 national and international experts from relevant government agencies and multisectoral institutions in agriculture, natural resources and the environment to deliberate on the project's objectives. It is done in… Read more

There is social scientific belief, which is common to researchers in the field, that Filipino farmers tale at least eight years to adopt new rice and corn seeds as well as farm technologies, but they eventually embrace new tools and inputs that would raise their yields, improve the prices of their crops or animals, and allow them to pay back creditors, principally loan sharks. In one interesting study in remote Samar, a Harvard scientist wishing to improve abaca production and teach Waray farmers to earn more found it hard to battle a disease similar to Fusarium wilt that decimates bananas… Read more

A new project that will enhance climate resilience in agriculture, natural resources, and ecosystems in the Philippines is being led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in collaboration with NIRAS Asia Manila Inc. and the International Centre for Environmental Management (ICEM). Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and officially titled "Accelerating Climate Resilience in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Environment (ANRE) Project," the initiative aims to advance the government's climate resilience reform agenda under the Climate Change Action Program (CCAP). The project kicked off with an inception workshop held on 8… Read more

ANCHORED on the theme "Revitalizing agro-industrial connectivity toward sustainable ecology and resilient GloCal Village," the 2nd International Agri-ecotourism Congress from September 11 to 12 was hosted by the Aklan State University (ASU) in Boracay, Malay, Aklan. Held at the Paradise Garden in Boracay, the event aimed to serve as a platform for the dissemination of research results and for sharing knowledge, experiences and culture in establishing agri-ecotourism technologies and innovations to sustain and mainstream the agri-ecotourism industry to a diverse set of audience. The event was attended by students, faculty researchers, scientists, research specialists, agricultural service providers, private sectors engaged… Read more

Collaborative opportunities to capacitate women agripreneurs through a planting program were explored during the recent visit of the Kalipayan Farm and Alfonso Women’s Council to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna. Kalipayan Farm founder Nikole Kazemi visited SEARCA along with Alfonso Women’s Council Chairman Len Maraan Reyes and board members Florinda Martal and Arceli Del Mundo. Intent on developing family farm communities, Kalipayan Farm is a social enterprise that provides farm-to-fork solutions that range from farm inputs to fresh and processed goods, farm development consultancy, and education and wellness… Read more

THE Kalipayan Farm and Alfonso Women's Council visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna to explore collaboration on capacitating women agripreneurs under a possible partnership on their joint Tanim Farm program. Nikole Kazemi, founder of the Kalipayan Farm; chairman Len Maraan Reyes and board members Florinda Martal and Arceli Del Mundo of Alfonso Women's Council; and Deinielle Ramos, an intern at the Kalipayan Farm, visited SEARCA to explore partnership on August 11, 2023. Also with the group was Dr. Andrew Gasmen of the University of the Philippines Los Baños… Read more

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