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MANILA, Philippines—Science Communicators Philippines, CropLife Philippines, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will jointly organize a media forum on biotechnology research and development (R&D) and regulatory landscape in the Philippines on 14 October 2025 at the Century Park Hotel. The event will be livestreamed simultaneously via Zoom and Facebook Live. The forum will convene media practitioners and science communicators from mainstream print, broadcast, and online media to discuss recent advances in agricultural biotechnology R&D, policy frameworks, and enabling programs that support its safe and responsible use in addressing food security, climate resilience… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) marked a pivotal moment in its institutional journey as it convened its 73rd Governing Board Meeting (GBM) on 29–30 September 2025 at its headquarters within the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus. The meeting culminated in the formal endorsement and support of SEARCA's updated 12th Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP), setting the strategic direction for the Center from FY 2025/2026 to FY 2029/2030. The approved updated plan is themed Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia) and signals… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines— The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is calling on photographers, students, hobbyists, agripreneurs, and storytellers across Southeast Asia to join the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest. This year's theme, "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," invites images that reveal the often-unseen steps that bring food from farms and seas to our tables. The contest looks for powerful, human-centered stories showing life after harvest—how crops are cleaned and sorted, how food is processed and packaged, how goods travel by road and water to markets, how vendors and… Read more
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
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