SEARCA in the News

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

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has partnered with the Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) in organizing a regional policy forum titled "From Farms to Schools: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive School-Based Food and Nutrition Programs in Southeast Asia." SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the policy forum will be conducted through a hybrid format that includes both virtual (via Zoom) and in-person attendees at Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, from April 24 to 25. Gregorio said the activity aims to maximize opportunities in the nutrition-education-development nexus by including family farmers… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has joined forces with the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) to convene a regional policy forum aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive school-based food and nutrition programs in Southeast Asia. The policy forum, titled “From Farms to Schools: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive School-Based Food and Nutrition Programs in Southeast Asia,” kicked off today at the Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The hybrid event is also livestreamed via Zoom. The event was designed to create opportunities for family farmers to participate in new and… Read more

Former Senate Committee chairman on Agriculture and Food Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan will talk about leveraging the role of family farming towards more productive and resilient food systems in the Philippines on April 25, 2023. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) director, said Pangilinan will be joining the roster of eminent speakers at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) at SEARCA's headquarters in this town. The three-term senator led the Senate committees on social justice and rural development as well as agrarian reform. Other speakers at the SEARCA ADSS include… Read more

Former Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Food Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan will talk about leveraging the role of family farming towards more productive and resilient food systems in the Philippines on April 25, 2023 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna. The three-term senator, who also chaired the Senate committees on social justice and rural development as well as agrarian reform, will join the roster of eminent speakers at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS). Other speakers at the SEARCA ADSS include ambassadors to the Philippines, a… Read more

OFFICIALS of both the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and officials of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently met to broach areas of possible collaboration. In the meeting, Education Advisor Beatriz Jimeno-Ortas of the Embassy of Spain and SEARCA officials led by Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio explored SEARCA's programs on the internationalization of education in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Gregorio said SEARCA is mandated to produce and equip agricultural professionals in the region. Jimeno-Ortas also explored a possible partnership between SEARCA and the Green European University (UNIgreen). She said UNIgreen… Read more

THE leadership of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEACA) urged scientists and biologists to communicate, engage in friendly competition and collaborate because diversifying learners' skillsets increasingly becomes the status quo. During the recently held Fireside Chat for Alumni titled "Transcending to greater heights toward scientific progress in a Vuca society," Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEACA director, said there is a need to provide motivation, mentorship and guidance "as we maneuver in a fast-paced environment." Vuca stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambivalent. During the event, Dr. Vachel Gay Paller, University of the Philippines Los… Read more

THE Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) conducted its Lakbay Aral for graduate students at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to benchmark the center's programs and research undertakings. The BASC visitation trip on April 13, 2023 was led by Rael Tejada, BASC research office director and Federated Graduate Studies Student Association president. According to Tejada, the BASC conducted the Lakbay Aral at SEARCA to expand the graduate students' knowledge and information on Southeast Asian research outputs related to agricultural and rural development. During the benchmarking activity, the BASC denizens were welcomed by Dr… Read more

The World Bank asked the Philippine government to give incentives that will encourage the private sector to invest in climate smart agriculture and renewable energy. Presenting the Country Climate and Development Report 2022 in a forum organized by Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the World Bank said the government should raise access of climate financing to private sector.   “Public and private investments are needed to finance adaptation through climate-resilient infrastructure.  Financing mitigation measures from private sector should be incentivized by new regulatory technology-push and demand-pull policies,” said WB project leader and lead… Read more