SEARCA News

The 2020 Elsevier Research Intelligence on Evidence-Based Policymaking in Indonesia named three members of the UC as top publishers of scientific articles on oil palm research. Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) ranked 1st with 69 articles published, followed by University of Goettingen which ranked 2nd with 42 articles and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 3rd with 24 articles. The three universities conducted wide range of research on oil palm covering topics in sustainability, biodiversity, socioeconomics, and the environment. For both IPB and UPM, the oil palm industry is vital in their country's economy and plays a huge part of their export… Read more

Engr. Ruel M. Mojica, SEARCA Alumnus, was awarded the Manila Water Foundation (MWF) Prize for Engineering Excellence for his invention: Bravura, a microcontroller-based roasting machine to increase the financial viability of low-income coffee farmers and cooperatives. MWF is the sole recognizing body in the country that pays tribute to engineers who have made a difference in the lives of the Filipino through their inventions that tackle development issues in the environment, water, sanitation, and sustainability. The Bravura Coffee Roasting Machine is the cheapest known vertical coffee roasting machine which was constructed in partnership with a local manufacturer. The machine is… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – 25 graduate students attended the Training on Writing Thesis and Dissertation Proposals jointly organized by SEARCA and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The three-day training was conducted by Dr. Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza, UPLB Professor Emeritus from the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) and National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Academician, Dr. Pamela A. Custodio, Assistant Professor from the College of Development Communication (CDC) and Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Professor from the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines - Driving innovative technologies and opportunities towards achieving greater regional agricultural sustainability brings the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to the fore in exploring the concept of circular economy as a business innovation  for resource efficiency in the agricultural sector. To mainstream the promising potential of circular thinking, SEARCA gathered 46 executives, heads, and trainers from agencies and organizations in the Los Baños Science Community (LBSC), including the Center’s heads and selected staff, in a Training Course on Circular Economy in Agriculture on 3-4 March 2020 at the SEARCA… Read more

Fully committed to continuing the delivery of credible, science-based information on agricultural biotechnology for Southeast Asia, ISAAA and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) renewed their 20-year partnership for the Philippine’s Biotechnology Information Center (BIC) through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on 21 February 2020. “Researchers have developed a lot of technologies aimed at boosting farm productivity, meeting the challenges in food security, and improving lives of farmers. The use of biotech crops is one solution that science offers us. SEARCA stands by its long commitment to help farmers understand the science and enable… Read more

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Five young professionals advocating for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation took center stage during the SEARCA-hosted Youth, Agriculture, and the Environment Session of the 3rd Philippine Environment Summit on 27 February 2020 in this city. The session featured by-the-youth and for-the-youth initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture practices, environmental protection, and the circular economy. The speakers were Louise Mabulo, Founder of The Cacao Project and UNEP's Young Champion of the Earth; Cherrys Abrigo, Founder of Sierreza Café; Enzo Pinga, Business Development and Partnerships Head of IISLA Ventures; Rein Hillary Carrascal, Beauty Queen and Ambassador of Hapi… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has awarded a Seed Fund for Research and Development worth US$15,000 to the University of the Philippines Rural High School (UPRHS) for its Youth Program on Agriculture. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio announced the award at the fund-raising event called "Coming Home: Lemuel Cuento in Concert" held on 26 February 2020 at the D.L. Umali Auditorium of UP Los Baños (UPLB). SEARCA was also a sponsor of the two-hour concert, which was also for the benefit of the UPRHS Youth Program on Agriculture. The concert featured… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Philippines are planning to further strengthen the enabling environment for agricultural innovation system and entrepreneurship in the country. This was discussed by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar, DA-BAR Director, during their meeting on 18 February 2020 at SEARCA's headquarters. Also present at the meeting were SEARCA Deputy Director Joselito G. Florendo; Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head for Graduate Education and Institutional Development; Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head for Research… Read more

Members of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) initiated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) are among the top universities around the world according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings of 2020. The list features the 533 best universities from 47 countries. The London Stock Exchange's FTSE Group categorized these countries as "advanced emerging," "secondary emerging" or "frontier." The National Taiwan University (NTU) is the 8th best university, while the University of the Philippines (UP) ranked 70th and Universiti Putra… Read more

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Officials and representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Bodies, the Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta, ASEAN Member States (AMS) Leaders and Social Forestry Focal Points, development partners, academe and international research organizations, civil society organizations, and the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) partner organizations will gather for the ASFCC Closing Event at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on 25-26 February 2020. The ASFCC, over 10 years of implementation which began in 2011, addressed the interlinked issues of food security, poverty, and climate change, particularly in forested landscapes in Southeast… Read more