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SEARCA News

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
The 55th anniversary celebration of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) was memorialized with tree-planting by Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and other SEAMEO centers in the Philippines. The  SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH) based in Quezon City and SEAMEO Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health (TROPMED Philippines) located in Manila each planted a tree in their respective compounds. Leading the tree-planting were Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, INNOTECH Director, and D. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., TROPMED Philippines Director. On the other hand… Read more
During the 33rd UC Executive Board meeting on 24-25 November 2020, Maejo University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Visayas State University and Central Luzon State University, both from the Philippines, introduced their institutions and expressed intent to join the consortium. In response, the Executive Board members unanimously agreed to their inclusion as new affiliate members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). Maejo University in Chiang Mai, Thailand was conceptualized by HM The King and was established in 1934 as the Northern Agricultural Teachers Training School. It became a public university in… Read more
The Agropolis Fondation (AF) of France, in collaboration with Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Biovision Foundation, recently launched the Call for Applications on Innovative Co-learning for Agriculture-based Solutions. The objective of the Call is to capitalize on, enhance or strengthen such practices as well as to explore new transdisciplinary, crosscutting or resolutely different methodologies, tools, approaches and sectors. It also aims to support innovative, inter-sectoral and cross-disciplinary learning, for promoting agroecological transition through transformative approaches and tools, innovative teams and networks. The present Call covers three crosscutting axes, namely: Axis 1: Agriculture… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines - The Southeast Asian  Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted a panel session titled “One Health/Eco-health Perspectives in Agri-Food Systems: Sustaining Livelihoods and Improving Wellbeing” during the 1st National Conference on Health, Environment, and Economic Development organized by the Economy and Environment Group Philippines (EEGP) on 19 November 2020 via MS Teams. SEARCA’s collaboration with EEG for this conference was spearheaded by its Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD) under its Program Head, Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, with support from the Center’s Management Information Services Unit (MISU) and Training for Development… Read more
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