SEARCA News

Negros Occidental, Philippines —The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to unveil its groundbreaking approach to agri-mechanization through open-systems tractors, reaching far and wide, particularly in the Visayas region. The recent collaboration with RU Foundry in Bacolod has resulted in the completion of the enhanced Oggun Tractor, an open-systems design tractor that is being locally manufactured in the Philippines. SEARCA's General Service Unit, together with the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department, inspected the newly designed tractor, which is tailored to meet the unique needs of farming communities in the region. The upgraded… Read more

A delegation from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) led by Mr. Grant Merrick, senior advisor for agriculture and food, and Ms. Tina Del Rosario, manager of the Asia Pacific Advisory, TBI Philippines, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 16 February 2024 to explore possible areas of collaboration, particularly in advancing the agriculture sector, including the promotion of responsive and climate-resilient research and development and innovation. TBI is a non-profit organization that works with political leaders worldwide and helps governments deliver positive change for their people. TBI Philippines was… Read more

Ms. Arunee Suwanngam, a PhD scholar who received the DAAD-SEARCA In-Country Scholarship, has been awarded a six-month research stay at the University of Cologne in Germany. The grant was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). During her scholarship, she attended various trainings and field visits focused on biodiversity genomics. She learned about cutting-edge genomic techniques and bioinformatics, and how they are applied in biodiversity research. Ms. Arunee, along with other students, collected soil samples from mountains, seashores, and deserts. They separated and classified the nematodes or roundworms in the samples. Ms. Arunee had the opportunity to experiment in… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has declared the winners of the 17th SEARCA Photo Contest (2023) themed "Regenerating agro-ecosystems, lowering 'global boiling'." Bagging first and second prizes are photographs from Vietnam by Thong Nguyen and Pham Quoc Hung. While one showcases a traditional postharvest method and the other a mechanized method, both are sustainable farming practices. The 3rd prize photo is from Lao PDR by Saiyadeth Sitthilath showing youngsters keenly learning planting techniques from an elderly. Meanwhile, the four special awardees feature innovations that significantly reduce the effects of "global boiling." The… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) together with Bayer Crop Science in the Philippines held the "20 Years and Onward: Advancing the Future of Philippine Yellow Corn" Forum, marking the two decades of use of Bt corn, or more locally known as yellow corn, after its first commercial planting in 2003. More than 160 attendees from public and private sectors attended the forum onsite and online, including from the academe, industry, business chambers, farmer groups, nongovernmental organizations, and the government. The forum looked back at key enabling policies as well as the situation of… Read more

A delegation from Laguna University (LU) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 13 February 2024 to seek potential partnerships on their bamboo program. The delegation included Dr. Colegio Gascon, officer-in-charge president; Dr. Monette Bato, vice president for planning and finance; Dr. Marie Joy Elomina, director for the Research and Development Center; and Ms. Helen Grace Centeno, focal person for bamboo exploration initiatives. Established in 2006, LU is a public university committed to providing access to education to the youth of Laguna, Philippines. During the visit, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA's Center director… Read more

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)'s Youth in Agri Talk Show is returning for its second episode on 16 February 2024 at 7:00 p.m. (GMT +8:00) on the Center's Facebook page. The episode titled "Winged Warriors: The Unsung Heroes of Agri-Land" will dive into the fascinating world of insects and explore their crucial role in agriculture and the ecosystem. Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs and an entomologist, will be featured as guest expert. Dr. Nur highlighted the importance of educating young people on the contributions of insects to agriculture and… Read more

A Sensient Colors, LLC delegation led by Dr. Vergel Concibido, director of agronomy, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 1 February 2024 to gain insights on its scholarship offerings and innovation-focused projects. Sensient Colors, LLC is a business unit under the Sensient Technologies Corporation, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of natural and synthetic color solutions for food and beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets. They have previously partnered with SEARCA in Innovation Olympics 2.0, an agri hackathon, wherein young innovators developed solutions to the challenges faced by urban and rural… Read more

SEARCA has marked the completion of one of its Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) projects, the Leveling-up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR), funded by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The project, under CHED's International Continuing Professional Education (ICPE) program, spanned from 2021 to 2023 and included short-term training programs, mobility exchanges, summer schools, faculty-graduate forums, cross-visits, and active participation in the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). The project's overarching aim was to enhance the relevance and competitiveness of the country's higher education institutions (HEIs)… Read more

SEARCA attended the kick-off meeting led by Kasetsart University (KU) for the Postgraduate Micro-Credentials on Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC) project, held from 31 January to 1 February 2024. The initiative, funded by the European Commission ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), spans from 2023 to 2026, aiming to deliver learner-centered short-term courses through micro-credentials to address food security and climate change concerns. The project also intends to utilize advances in digital technologies to develop and offer online modules that will address the twin issues of food security and climate change. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA center… Read more