SEARCA News
The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), an internationally peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), celebrates two decades of contributing to the knowledge base of Asian agriculture and development through a paper seminar, featuring the presentation and discussion of two published articles in the AJAD 20th Anniversary Issue. The anniversary revolves around the theme, "AJAD's First Twenty Years: Evolving Knowledge and Practice in Asian Agriculture and Rural Development." Dubbed AJAD@20, the celebratory program and paper seminar is slated for 3 February 2025, 9:30 a.m., at the SEARCA Umali…
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SEARCA is set to conduct a three-day, face-to-face Training-Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy from 21–23 January 2025 as part of its commitment to nurturing leaders and innovators in agriculture, rural development, and related fields. The course, organized by the SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department, was designed exclusively for the Center's scholars and aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively translate research findings into actionable policies, promoting evidence-informed policymaking and practice. Sixteen SEARCA scholars across different scholarship programs studying at Kasetsart University in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Nagoya University in Japan, Universiti…
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SEARCA welcomes its first Liberian scholar
17 January 2025
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Graduate Study Program has expanded its reach beyond Southeast Asia to advance South-South cooperation by awarding a scholarship to a Liberian for the first time. Mr. Apatens Gardiner, a Master of Science in Agronomy student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, was granted the SEARCA scholarship in July 2024. Mr. Apatens graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture with honors from William V. S. Tubman University, a public university in Maryland County, Liberia. During his undergraduate studies, he served as the Student President…
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The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development December 2024 issue contributes seven new studies and a book review to the knowledge base of timely themes on global food prices, sustainable food system, food security, value chain, income diversification, and hunger and poverty. Based on findings in the paper "Unveiling Socioeconomic Factors Shaping Global Food Prices and Security: A Machine Learning Approach," Professor Shan Shan of Zhejiang University, China, concludes that harnessing machine learning techniques and understanding socioeconomic variables are necessary to help policymakers make informed decisions on improving global food prices and security. Researchers from Thailand, China, Myanmar, Lao PDR…
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The ERASMUS+-funded program on Postgraduate Micro-credentials in Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC) opened 2025 with a workshop titled Developing a Roadmap for the Establishment of Micro-Credentials. This workshop, held on 9–10 January 2025 at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, marked the project's final event under Work Package 3 (WP3). Organized by UGM in collaboration with Maejo University (MJU), the workshop played a crucial role in finalizing the roadmap for micro-credentials and reaching an agreement among partner universities on offering the program. The workshop gathered representatives from academic institutions, including Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), UGM, and Universitas…
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SEARCA grants drive innovation projects in Southeast Asia
9 January 2025
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has picked four projects for the 2024–2025 Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS). The grants, ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 15,000 each, will support projects aimed at transforming food production in Laos, Timor Leste, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The GRAINS project proponents plan to introduce new processes and technologies in farming communities. In Laos, Dr. Viengvilaiphone Botthoulath, a microbiology expert, will teach farmers to extract probiotic microorganisms from agricultural waste to provide affordable nutrients for their hydroponic farms. In Timor Leste, Mr. Agustinho da…
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The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), teamed up with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN) for the CE SAIN-SEARCA Joint International Conference 2024: The Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (SAIN4) and the Third School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE3) Conference held on 19–22 November 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Themed "Harnessing synergies of sustainable agriculture and biodiversity towards food and nutrition security and improved livelihoods," this year's conference provided a platform for tapping into…
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The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted Dr. Enno Bahrs under its Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) on 10 December at the Drilon Hall, SEARCA Headquarters. He presented the results of their research project on Agriculture 4.0 without Chemical Synthetic Plant Protection (NOcsPS), which explored alternative cropping systems that eliminate the use of chemical synthetic plant protection products (commonly referred to as pesticide-free) while optimizing the use of mineral fertilizers. Dr. Bahrs is the Head of the Department of Agricultural Business Management at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Dr. Bahrs explained…
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The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted Dr. Dominic Glover under its Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) on 5 December at the Drilon Hall, SEARCA Headquarters. Dr. Glover introduced a groundbreaking approach to understanding technological change in agriculture, moving beyond the traditional concept of adoption. Titled Beyond Adaptation: A Technographic Approach to Analyzing and Understanding Technological Change in Agriculture, Dr. Glover presented the PEDRO framework (Proposition, Encounter, Disposition, Response, and Outcome) that highlights the diverse actors and varying forms of agency involved in technological change, focusing on the role of technological practitioners…
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The Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), spearheaded a three-day Introductory Training on Agri-Robotics at Tarlac Agricultural University's Farmer's Training Center (TAU-FTC) on 2–4 December 2024. The training aimed to inspire students and faculty to leverage technology in advancing agriculture in the Philippines. The event brought together Information and Technology (IT) and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) students, as well as TAU faculty members. The participants were warmly welcomed by Dr. Silverio Ramon Salunson, President of TAU, who emphasized the critical role of technology in modernizing…
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