SEARCA News

As a commitment to futureproofing Southeast Asian learners to be influential catalysts of agri innovation in this time of the pandemic, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partners once again with the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (UPLB-OVCRE) for a Basic English Training for SEARCA scholars held from 19 July 2021 to 9 August 2021 via Zoom and Google Classroom.  The customized trainings aim to give scholars the necessary skills that would assist them in accomplishing their course requirements, navigating their graduate studies, and prepare them to become future leaders… Read more

Dr. Glenn B. GregorioDirector and CEOSoutheast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Recognizing the importance of conserving coastal and marine resources as further emphasized in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14: Life below water), we support the call that, “No Member shall grant or maintain any subsidy to a vessel or operator engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.” As studies have shown, the Philippine fisheries has for years experienced steep declines in catch per unit effort (CPUE) while the marine and capture fisheries landing, both for commercial and municipal fisheries, have followed upward… Read more

The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), the ILSI Southeast Asia Region (ILSI SEA Region), the Academy of Food and Nutrition-Indonesia Academy of Sciences (AIPG-AIPI), and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), organized a webinar entitled, “Science and Sustainable Food Systems in Southeast Asia – Challenges and Ways Forward” on 5 July 2021 via Zoom. In conjunction with the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Science Days, the side event aims to present some of the challenges and opportunities towards sustainable agricultural productivity and host a panel discussion on steps for progress. Chaired by… Read more

To still catch the wave of the recently concluded United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Independent Dialogue on Transforming Agri-food Systems hosted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) together with CropLife Asia (CLA), SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio shared his life experiences as a farmer and his expertise in genetics and plant breeding in the sixth episode of the podcast entitled, “Asia’s Farm to Fork: Five Good Questions” aired on 9 July 2021 via Spotify. Led and hosted by Mr. Duke Hipp, Director for Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships of CLA… Read more

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Director and National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) Academician, shared the impacts of COVID-19 in the Philippine food system and ways to move forward in the First Plenary Session on Food, Environment, and Health of the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) organized by NAST PHL on 12-15 July 2021. An attached agency to the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Academy launches ASM as an annual activity to serve as the leading forum for the presentation of scientific and policy… Read more

Dr. Khaswar Syamsu, University Professor at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia, delivered his SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair public lecture about "Increased Bioethanol Production Directly from Sweet Sorghum Bagasse using Mold and Yeast" on 6 July 2021, via Zoom platform. Dr. Syamsu discussed the importance of alternative renewable energy sources, as well as its compliance with the Indonesian Government regulation regarding the provision of use of alternative energy. In his presentation, he mentioned that bioethanol as biofuel has a relatively high production cost than petroleum fuel. With his research, he studied and introduced the production techniques of bioethanol from sweet sorghum… Read more

The Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2021 is a regional event that aims to showcase opportunities and ambitious solutions from different countries in Asia and the Pacific to climate challenges. Recognizing the critical role of climate finance as a catalyst for large-scale investments for climate adaptation and mitigation interventions, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized a side event on "Advancing Jurisdictional Sustainability Approach and its Potential for Climate Financing in Southeast Asia" during the APCW 2021. The side event held on 7 July 2021 via Zoom and Facebook is co-organized by Food and… Read more

Collaborations between farmers, institutions, mother-support and nutrition support groups; prioritization of breastfeeding as a vital part of the "First Food Systems" paradigm; and a proposal for policy makers to make a close inspection of the current food and agri systems were among the calls of the participants in the round table discussion, "First Things First… Prioritizing Breastfeeding in the First Food System" jointly organized by SEARCA and LATCH Los Baños (LATCH LB) on 29 June 2021 via Zoom. This event is also supported by Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc. (KMI) and Arugaan. "We at SEARCA, our priority areas like Food and… Read more

A virtual regional consultation workshop will be held on 7 July 2021, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (UCT+7), to formally kickstart the development process of the third volume and the accompanying implementation strategies of the ASEAN Guidelines for Promoting Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) Practices. Co-organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), this event is hosted by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) on behalf of the ASEAN-Climate Resilience Network (CRN) and supported by the Climate Smart Land Use in ASEAN Project of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The… Read more

Sustainable, creative, and well-thought-of edible landscaping not just adds beauty to the environment, but also promotes food safety and increases awareness of the community toward healthy living—this sums up the message delivered by Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Director and the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Technical Panel for Agriculture Chair during the City Nursery Garden Launch of the Food Always In The Home (FAITH) Program of the City Government of Parañaque on 30 June 2021. In Dr. Gregorio’s message, he congratulated the city government led by Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez for the significant milestone… Read more