SEARCA in the News

In its push for family farming, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has called for a holistic approach to support resilient food systems and ensure food security in the country. According to Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, this was the resounding message resulting from a SEARCA-led hybrid and flexible Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) late last month. Gregorio said the "ADSS on Leveraging the Role of Family Farming Towards More Productive and Resilient Food Systems in the Philippines" is relevant, adding that "now more than ever, there is a need to promote… Read more

Shrimp waste was turned into bioplastic for packaging and could be a potential solution to lessen the massive waste from nonbiodegradable plastics.  University of San Carlos (USC) researchers have developed the bioplastic with support from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture through the latter’s Grants for Research toward Agriculture and Innovative Solutions, said a SEARCA news release. The grant was awarded in 2022 to the project team led by Dr. Maria Kristina Paler. According to the team, processing frozen shrimp meat for export generates tons of waste composed of shrimp heads and shells, which… Read more

Efforts to realize the roadmap development of the calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro kicked off with a back-to-back training workshop at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) headquarters in Los Baños town in Laguna province. Through Searca's Research and Thought Leadership Department, the Back-to-Back Training Workshops on Roadmap Development and Marketing Strategies for Calamansi from April 11-14, 2023 is a form of technical assistance for the roadmap development in collaboration with the Oriental Mindoro provincial government. According to Searca Director Glenn Gregorio, the training workshops aimed to capacitate select representatives of the calamansi… Read more

THE Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division in Palawan together with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) organized a three-day training on sustainable food production for Busuanga Island schools and communities. This training in Coron, Palawan which started on May 9 and culminates today, May 11, gathered at least 40 school heads, Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) coordinators, and representatives from selected barangays in Busuanga and Coron. Searca Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio noted that during the three-day training, the participants were expected to learn and experience hands-on training. Topics discussed include school and… Read more

CEBU CITY — University of San Carlos (USC) researchers have developed a potential solution to lessen the massive waste from nonbiodegradable plastics by turning shrimp waste into bioplastic with potential use for packaging. The project was supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through its Grants for Research toward Agriculture and Innovative Solutions (GRAINS). The grant was awarded in 2022 to the project team led by Dr. Maria Kristina Paler. According to the team, processing frozen shrimp meat for export generates tons of waste in the form of shrimp heads and shells, which… Read more

A PROFESSOR from the Northern Ireland-based Ulster University visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to discuss potential areas of collaboration on education and training. Professor Sven Schottmann who visited SEARCA on April 24, 2023 met with Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD) senior program head; and Dr. Nova Ramos, ECLD-Training for Development Unit head. A civic university known for its world-class teaching, Ulster University aims to enhance its learners' social experiences and promote interactive classroom setups and immersed pedagogical innovations. According to SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio… Read more

The World Bank has urged the government to grant the private sector incentives to invest in climate smart agriculture and renewable energy and tap ESG bonds to finance climate actions countering disasters. World Bank officials said the government should expand the access of climate financing to the private sector in a Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) 2022 it presented in a forum of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). It also urged the Philippines to make investment policies for climate action attractive and encouraged access to environmental, social and governance (ESG) bonds… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said rice farmers and agricultural officers in Laguna and Nueva Ecija are keen on expanding the utilization of rice straw for bioenergy as an alternative to burning waste straw in fields. A roundtable discussion held earlier this month identified challenges, opportunities and innovations in implementing local and national policies on rice straw management. SEARCA said participants included representatives of local government units, farmer associations, environmental groups, research organizations and other rice commodity stakeholders from ten rice-producing municipalities in Laguna and Nueva Ecija. The discussion focused on the… Read more

Rice farmers and municipal agricultural officers from Laguna and Nueva Ecija participated in a series of roundtable discussions (RTDs) facilitated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to probe the use of rice straw for bioenergy. Citing the harmful effects of burning rice straw in the fields such as air pollution, emission of greenhouse gases, harm to public health and motorists getting into accidents, the participants emphasized the need to use the waste product for bioenergy, fertilizer, mulching, livestock feed or mushroom substrate. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the series of RTDs were… Read more

Rice farmers and agricultural officers in Laguna and Nueva Ecija have explored the use of rice straw for bioenergy as an alternative to burning waste straw in fields during roundtable discussions convened by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Held in mid-April 2023, the roundtable discussions (RTDs) identified challenges, opportunities, and innovations in implementing local and national policies on rice straw management. The participants included representatives of local government units, farmer associations, environmental groups, research organizations, and other rice commodity stakeholders from 10 rice-producing municipalities in Laguna and Nueva Ecija. The RTDs were… Read more