SEARCA News

SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) releases The Bt Eggplant Story, a new video series that documents the development of Bt eggplant in the Philippines and highlights the clamor of farmers for the release of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Eggplant farming is a major source of farmer income but the current situation puts farmers, consumers, and the environment at risk. Eggplants are susceptible to the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB), causing around 73% yield loss annually. To address this problem, scientists from the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) are currently developing a GM eggplant that… Read more

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), delivered the keynote address at the 33rd Anniversary celebration of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-ATI-CAR) on 30 January 2020. The theme was “Vibrant Agriculture and Fishery Extension Towards Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.” In his keynote address titled “Climate Change and the 4th IR Readiness through Extension and Innovation on Farming Technologies,” Dr. Gregorio emphasized that SEARCA is working with partners such as ATI to make a difference in agriculture in… Read more

MUÑOZ, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has completed the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)-funded project titled "Building Capacity and Strengthening Partnership for Carabao Development Program (CDP)" conducted from April 2015 to December 2019. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, turned over the final report to Dr. Arnel N. del Barrio, PCC Executive Director, during his visit to PCC on 21 January 2020. With him was a team from SEARCA that included SEARCA Deputy Director Joselito G. Florendo. The project had three components, namely: knowledge management (KM), capacity building, and enterprise development, which supported… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have renewed their partnership to further collaborate and address challenges, particularly leadership development, in the country’s rice sector. SEARCA is keen to contribute in addressing regional and global challenges, elevating agricultural families' quality of life. The Center will do so by enabling them to access new and innovative financial services; to adopt new, sustainable, resilient production technologies and systems; to integrate with modern postharvest and logistics system; and to gain access to and operate in modern networks and markets. Meanwhile… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – With volcanic plumes looming in the sky and volcanic ash in the air, leaders from higher education institutions (HEI) in Southeast Asia braved the impending eruption of Taal volcano to collectively seek solutions to contemporary challenges faced by HEI through the Leadership Development Program for HEIs in Southeast Asia. The leaders included presidents, vice presidents, deans and assistant deans, registrars, and department heads from colleges and universities in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam. Co-organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Singapore based… Read more

Southeast Asian youngsters eager to learn from adult mentors' enterprising farm activities comprise the winning entries in the recently concluded 13th Photo Contest of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Four Filipino photographers dominated the six categories, including one who bagged the two new special awards. First place winning entry by Mariano Sayno shows a mother-and-son tandem in the town of Victoria in Laguna, Philippines, known for its duck raising cottage industry. The adjudged best photo shows a young boy cheerfully holding a duck as he watches his mother place freshly laid eggs… Read more

Enabling farmers to make informed decisions on products of modern biotechnology, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through its Biotechnology Information Center organized a Farmers’ Forum on Biotechnology on December 19, 2019 at SEARCA, Los Baños, Laguna.   SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio expressed his desire to engage with the participants and he encouraged them to think critically and be open to information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “Don’t be afraid of modern biotechnology. This activity is meant to clarify misconceptions about GMOs so we should take this opportunity to learn more about it,”… Read more

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte formally presented the Rank and Order of National Scientist to Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former SEARCA Director and advocate of agricultural modernization in a ceremony held on January 7 at Malacañang Palace. Last August, the president released Proclamation 781 which recognizes Dr. Javier’s outstanding work in the field of agriculture and his contributions to the progress of science and technology in the Philippines and the world. It also highlighted Dr. Javier’s commitment to address the needs of the poor through modern science, as well as the active role he is playing in informing the public about how science can be used to improve access… Read more

His Excellency U Lwin Oo, Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the Philippines, visited SEARCA on 19 December 2019. He was received by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration. Ambassador Lwin Oo has been very recently appointed to the Philippines, having presented his credentials to President Rodrigo R. Duterte just last December 4. Dr. Gregorio briefed him about SEARCA and its programs, many of which are regional in scope and include projects and activities covering Myanmar. In particular, Myanmar has been actively engaged with SEARCA’s Graduate… Read more

HO CHI MINH, Vietnam – Nine grantees and research team members from five research projects under the Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) Program gathered in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam on 9-10 December 2019 for a technical workshop towards addressing the challenges of research to contribute to inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD). The technical workshop ensues from the external review conducted in 2018, which recommended the conduct of this activity among grantees to ensure that appropriate methodologies are used, challenges in the conduct of the research are addressed early enough, and results generated meet the standards… Read more