SEARCA in the News

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is calling for a favorable set of biotechnology (BT) regulatory policies in the Philippines amid calls for the revocation of the commercial permit of Golden Rice, a genetically modified (GM) rice variety. In a statement, SEARCA said that aside from the safety questions on the BT products, an "effective communication and science-based regulatory frameworks" is also important. It issued the statement weeks after the Philippine government has approved Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed as well as for processing (FFP). To be specific, the Philippine…

The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has launched a new look for its 15th year of publication. The news look is "symbolic of the pivotal turn in its publisher's goal to contribute in addressing regional and global challenges, elevating agricultural families' quality of life through sustainable and resilient livelihoods and access to modern networks and markets," SEARCA said in a statement. The new AJAD look highlights the iconic "tree" emblem of its publisher. It shows a molave tree with an interlace of grain…

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is boosting support for favorable agri-biotechnology regulatory policies amid calls for the revocation of the commercial permit of Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice. Believing agri-biotechnology is the key to food security and uplifting farmers' lives, SEARCA said it has partnered with three expert groups for the program to boost expert knowledge in regulations on living modified organisms, which include farm products more known as genetically modified organisms (GMO). This is through the opening of the program "Second Asian Course on Agribiotechnology." SEARCA Director and National Academician Glenn Gregorio…

ASEAN's farm research center Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is pushing for support for favorable agri-biotechnology regulatory policies amid local calls for the revocation of the commercial permit of pro-Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice. This, as SEARCA said it believes that agri-biotechnology will be key to food security and upliftment of farmers' lives. "We stand behind products of agribiotechnology that increase agricultural productivity to feed a growing population in the midst of dwindling natural resources and erratic changes in climate," said SEARCA Director and National Academician Glenn B. Gregorio. "Due attention must be given…

MANILA, Philippines — Another international institution has backed the controversial Golden Rice amid calls of a green group to revoke its approval. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is supporting the Golden Rice as it emphasized that agri-biotechnology will be key to food security and upliftment of farmers' lives. ASEAN's farm research center said it is boosting support for favorable agri-biotechnology regulatory policies amid local calls for the revocation of the commercial permit of pro-Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice. Despite safety questions on biotechnology products, SEARCA deems it important to harness the full potential…

A PROFESSOR of the University of the Philippines (UP) has been appointed as deputy director for administration of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The appointment of Professor Joselito Florendo, outgoing vice president for planning and finance of the UP System, took effect on December 1. Not completely new to SEARCA, Florendo served as its financial adviser on accounting, audit, investment, and finance from 2003 to 2007. SEARCA is a treaty organization hosted by the Philippine government on the campus of UP Los Baños. It is mandated to strengthen institutional capacities toward agricultural…

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has thrown its support behind Golden Rice (GR2E) amid calls by certain sectors to revoke the genetically modified organism's (GMO) biosafety permit. In a statement on Monday, ASEAN's farm research center said it is also boosting support for the country's biotechnology regulations and policies by opening a program to expand knowledge on biotechnology, particularly GMOs and regulations, for stakeholders, especially policy-makers. "We stand behind products of agribiotechnology that increase agricultural productivity to feed a growing population in the midst of dwindling natural resources and erratic changes in…

ASEAN’s farm research center SEARCA is boosting support for favorable agri-biotechnology regulatory policies amid local calls for the revocation of the commercial permit of pro-Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice. Believing agri-biotechnology will be key to food security and the upliftment of farmers’ lives, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture said itpartnered with three expert groups for the golden rice program to boost expert knowledge in regulations on living modified organisms (LMO). LMO include farm products more known to be the controversial GMO (genetically modified organisms). This is through the opening of the program “Second Asian Course…

Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines U Lwin Oo expressed appreciation for the scholarships the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture has provided to Myanmar nationals during his recent visit to Searca. He was received by Searca Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio and Searca Deputy Director for Administration Joselito G. Florendo. Lwin has been very recently appointed to the Philippines, having presented his credentials to President Duterte last December 4. Gregorio briefed him about Searca and its programs that include projects and activities covering Myanmar, such as the ongoing “Agricultural transformation and market integration in Asean countries: Responding to food…

Los Baños, Laguna―Diverse perspectives on the Rice Tariffication Law emerged at the session on regional implication of the Philippine RTL. The session was convened by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture during the recently held Inaugural Rice Research Symposium of the World Rice Conference organized by The Rice Trader. Republic Act 11203 or RTL was recently passed with the purpose of lifting existing quantitative import restrictions on rice. It has amassed mixed reactions from various stakeholders of the local rice industry, raising the question as to whether it is indeed beneficial for the Philippine…