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CORON, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Palawan, convened a workshop to craft an upscaling strategy and conduct the end-of-project evaluation for the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) project in Busuanga Island. Held on 23–25 September 2025, the event gathered 32 participants , including representatives from local government units, school heads, principals, and focal persons for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) from both pilot and adopted schools across the island. Coron municipal agriculture committee chair Ma. Aurora… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) officially launched the search for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) during an OSSA Selection Committee meeting held on 26 September 2025. This initiative aims to honor SEARCA graduate alumni who embody the Center's core values and philosophy and have demonstrated excellence in their professional fields, made impactful contributions to public service, and engaged in initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture and rural development in Southeast Asia. During the meeting, the OSSA Selection Committee reviewed the 2016 OSSA cycle, including the award categories and selection criteria… Read more
CAGAYAN DE ORO and BUKIDNON, Philippines—Science, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships framed the 7th University Consortium Faculty Forum (UCFF), which convened faculty members, researchers, and policymakers from across Southeast Asia to exchange insights on how agriculture can drive the transition to a green economy and ensure global food security. Hosted by Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon, Philippines on 24–25 September 2025, the forum had the theme "Building a Sustainable Future: Agriculture in a Green Economy for Global Food Security." In his welcome message, Dr. Jose Valmorida, Vice President for Academic Affairs of CMU, spoke on behalf… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—An important window of opportunity for a healthy and productive adult life lies with basic education according to a study presented at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held on 24 September 2025. Nutritionist-dietician Ma. Cristina Sison, who co-authored the study "Youth Engagement in Transforming the Food System to Address Malnutrition in the Philippines" published in the 20th anniversary issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), brought to the discussion table a crucial yet often overlooked role of nutrition in economic development, especially among the youth. Stressing the link between good nutrition with… Read more
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Mr. Ariel Antinero, a Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) PhD Research Scholar and PhD student in marine biology at Mindanao State University at Naawan, won first place in the poster competition at the 2025 NRCP Annual Scientific Conference and 23rd Mindanao Regional Cluster Assembly held on 18 September 2025 at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City. Organized by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), the event carried the theme "Empowering and Sustainable Future: Science, Technology, Social Innovation, and Human Capital in Global Challenges." It gathered scientists, researchers… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) featured Dr. Oskar Lecuyer, an environmental economist at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in its latest Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held via Zoom and onsite at SEARCA on 12 September 2025. Lecuyer presented the Blue Environmental Sustainability Gap (Blue ESGAP) framework, a pioneering tool for assessing nature-related risks and guiding sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. Building on AFD's Environmental Sustainability Gap (ESGAP) model, the Blue ESGAP is being piloted in Indonesia and the Philippines to measure the ecological, social, and… Read more
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—An innovative alert system powered by satellites, sensors, and drones may soon help cacao farmers safeguard their crops and ensure a steady supply of premium beans. A groundwork project in Davao City, Philippines validated the use of satellite data, soil sensors, and drone imaging to provide farmers advance alerts on health disruptions in their cacao farms. Farmers will receive these warnings as simple messages on their mobile phones, enabling them to address the problems before they escalate. The project was funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through its Grants… Read more
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY and BUKIDNON, Philippines—The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) will host the 7th UC Faculty Forum (UCFF) on 24–25 September 2025 at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City and CMU in Bukidnon, Philippines. As the UC Secretariat, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will support the conduct of the UCFF. The event will be addressed by SEARCA's top leadership, with Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, Center Director, delivering a message during the opening program and… Read more
KAMPONG THOM and SIEM REAP, Cambodia—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), has undertaken a baseline study as part of the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) Project in Cambodia. The study is a foundational step in assessing the current conditions of selected pilot sites and generating evidence-based insights to guide project implementation and monitoring. The initial phase of the baseline study involved profiling of pilot school gardens at Raksmey Sophanna High School and Samdech Euv High… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Coastal communities across Southeast Asia, long been plagued by poverty despite their proximity to rich marine resources, must be reintegrated into national and local development strategies through the emerging blue economy. This was highlighted in a lecture delivered under the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 20 August 2025. ADSS speaker Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman of De La Salle University (DLSU) pointed out that the region's oceans hold a huge potential to generate inclusive and sustainable growth. In her seminar, titled "From Margins… Read more
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