SEARCA News

Teams of young innovators from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) bested nine other teams at the Luzon Demo Day of the Innovation Olympics 2.0 held online on 19 December 2020. The two teams comprise the Luzon finalists in the competition. The second edition of the Innovation Olympics was launched in October 2020 to conduct a nationwide search for innovative solutions in precision agriculture for small-scale vegetable farming that are developed by young Filipinos. Innovation Olympics 2.0 is a collaboration of East-West Seed with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – A delegation from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) led by its Director, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, presented to Los Baños Mayor Antonio L. Kalaw the Center's programs and activities in the municipality during a courtesy call on 7 January 2021 at the mayor's office. Dr. Gregorio said even during the leadership of the late Mayor Cesar P. Perez, "We have been closely coordinating with the farmer's associations and cooperatives here in Los Baños especially in Bayog." He thanked the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist led by Ms. Cheryll… Read more

Reinforcing SEARCA's commitment to become a leading enabler and champion of excellence in agricultural and rural development (ARD), the Center sent young professionals and current scholars from across Southeast Asia to the 3rd Asian Short Course on Agri-biotech, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA) held through online platforms from 23 to 26 November 2020. The four-day short course was organized by International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) together with SEARCA, the Malaysia Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC), the US Soybean Export Council, and the US Grains Council. It was designed to enable participants to better understand the following key… Read more

Dr. Glenn B. GregorioDirector and CEOSoutheast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Point 1: OVERALL GROWTH PROJECTIONS FOR THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN Q1 2021. For the first quarter of 2021, we are projecting that the overall growth rate of the volume of production in agriculture is -1.21%. This contraction could be expected as the agriculture sector bounces back after a series of typhoons and floods on top of the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Fishery is expected to have positive growth at 3.05%, but such is not the case for crops (-1.17%)… Read more

The year 2020 is surely an unexpectedly challenging year. Agricultural production has been disrupted by a number of catastrophes that slowed down the pace by which the sector plays as an engine for economic development in the Southeast Asian region. While the COVID-19 pandemic crippled most of the key economic sectors in the Philippines, the agriculture sector was able to maintain a positive growth in year 2020. It must be acknowledged that there were earlier production growth targets that may not have been achieved. But being able to maintain positive growth is an enduring story of resilience at a time… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH-Climate-Smart Land Use Project concluded the GIZ-SEARCA ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP) with a virtual closing and awarding of certificates to 27 participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Held on 10 December 2020, the closing ceremony marked the end of the two and a half months (1 October to 11 December 2020) online leadership programme which discussed the role of land management for food security and climate change in the… Read more

The Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for institutional cooperation on 17 December 2020 at the LSPU-Los Baños Campus in Barangay Malinta, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Under the five-year agreement, SEARCA and LSPU committed to collaborate on a number of programs and projects, including joint capacity building activities, and other activities related to education, training, and research in agriculture and fisheries. The signatories to the MOU are Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Dr. Mario R. Briones, LSPU President… Read more

The Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) successfully wrapped its 2020 activities with the virtual conduct of the 6th UC Graduate Forum (UCGF) hosted by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 10-11 December 2020. The participants were warmly welcomed by Prof. Panut Mulyono, Rector of UGM, during the opening ceremony. The UCGF is an annual event that aims to provide an opportunity for graduate students from UC member institutions to share new knowledge, research ideas, and experiences in an open platform. It also encourages transdisciplinary studies and promote greater integration of… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) institutionalized their mutual understanding to collaborate in a number of areas of common interest such as education, research, and training. In a virtual signing ceremony held via Zoom on 14 December 2020, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions was signed by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Dr. Max P. Guillermo, TAU President, with Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, and Dr. Christina N. Ferrer, External Linkages and International Affairs Director, as witnesses. Dr… Read more

The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) releases its latest issue with studies examining two key crops in Asia, rice and palm oil, and recommending policies and practices to bolster the performance of these sectors. Malaysia’s plantation industry and economy’s dependence on foreign labor can prevent optimum productivity by disincentivizing mechanization and innovation. The impacts of recent migration trends on mechanization, productivity, safety, and worker turnover in plantations are discussed in the first paper of the journal. Results of this analysis suggest that foreign worker inflows are insufficient to satisfy labor requirements, even as technology and farming best practices… Read more