SEARCA News

“Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is interested in exploring synergies with SEARCA, particularly on linkages in agriculture and rural development, noting SEARCA’s work with Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines, where sustainable is agriculture has a huge potential for economic growth yet confronted with challenges,” said Dr. V. Bruce J. Tolentino, BSP Monetary Board Member, during their visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 9 September 2022. During the exploratory meeting, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, briefed the BSP delegation on the Center’s activities and programs under its 11th Five-Year… Read more

Officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) led by its General Development Advisor, Dr. Brent Edelman, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 8 September 2022. They discussed the current food security situation in the Philippines, underlying causes of food insecurity, and potential short-term and medium-term solutions. “Food insecurity is becoming an increasingly important issue for the US Embassy and the US Government here in the Philippines. We are trying to figure out what are the primary food security needs of the Philippines on a short, medium, and long-term… Read more

The Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) of SEARCA offered the Online Training on Scientific Writing for scholars from August 15 to September 5, 2022, every Monday and Thursday. The training program was attended by 2nd and 3rd-year scholars who already have research data that they can develop further into journal articles. The training aimed to introduce principles and practical techniques for communicating scientific information to an academic audience. The College of Development Communication (CDC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), conducted the training with Asst. Prof. Avril Adrianne De Guzman-Madrid from the Department of Science Communication as technical… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has embarked on a three-year project to make clean energy accessible to remote, under-served rural communities. Entitled Rice Straw Biogas Hub, the project will generate biogas as clean energy from waste rice straw and provide an innovative package of technology services for rice farmers. Funded by Innovate UK under the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organization,  the Rice Straw Biogas Hub is gearing for its first commercial scale in Laguna, Philippines, starting September 2022. The lead proponent is UK-registered startup Straw Innovations in collaboration with SEARCA, the… Read more

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Philippines and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), organized the High-Level Policy Forum on Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Pathways, Policies, and Prospects on 8-9 September 2022 at Luxent Hotel and via Zoom. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, welcomed both in-person and online participants to the forum. In his remarks, Dr. Gregorio reiterated the objectives of the forum and shared some notable involvements of the Center in the efforts in agricultural and… Read more

The persisting COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and the intensifying effects of climate change that threaten sustainable food systems around the world bring into sharp focus the need for emerging technologies and innovations that can transform agricultural production and ensure food security for the next generation.   For its 16th year, the annual photo contest launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) zooms in on "Emerging Agricultural Innovations for the Next Generation." The competition is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with  the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Philippines and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), will organize the High-Level Policy Forum on Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Pathways, Policies, and Prospects on 8-9 September 2022. The forum will be conducted in hybrid format via Zoom and at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City. This activity aims to convene stakeholders from relevant Philippine government agencies, representatives from development and research organizations and think tanks, civil society and farmers organizations, the academe, and the private sector to tackle… Read more

Dr. Remy Bitoun, Tech Transfer Head, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 30 August 2022. He was received by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director; Ms. Corinta C. Guerta, Technical Advisor to the Director; Asst. Prof. Glenn N. Baticados, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD); and Ms. Leah Lyn D. Domingo, Public Relations Specialist and Officer-in-Charge, Partnerships Unit (PU). Dr. Bitoun emphasized the importance of partnerships between IRRI and private sector companies to leverage intellectual property innovations. He looks forward to collaborating with SEARCA… Read more

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Universiti Putra Malaysia – Halal Products Research Institute (UPM-HPRI), will conduct the Regional Training-Workshop on Halal Slaughtering and Certification on 23-25 August 2022 at The Everly Hotel, Putrajaya, Malaysia. The training-workshop aims to enhance the capacities of Halal professionals, practitioners, policymakers, and other key players and stakeholders on Halal slaughtering and certification as well as to increase the exchange of knowledge and information and to explore potential collaborations for further development of the Halal industry in the ASEAN region. This… Read more

In celebration of the International Youth Day with the theme, “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages”, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) unveiled the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) on 12 August 2022 via blended mode. The learning facility is annexed to the SEARCA headquarters located on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Center’s host institution since its inception in 1966. The grand launch was graced by His Excellency José Gaspar dos Reis Correia Piedade, Ambassador of Timor… Read more