SEARCA in the News

Multilateral financier World Bank has urged the government to give incentives for investments in climate smart agriculture, renewable energy (RE) and to tap ESG (environmental, social, governance) bonds to finance climate actions countering disasters. Presenting its Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) 2022 in a forum of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), World Bank officials stressed that a government has to raise access of climate financing to private sector. That along with making investment policies for climate action attractive and encouraging access particularly to ESG bonds. “Public and private investments are needed… Read more

The major bottleneck to digitalizing agriculture is capacity-building in the communities where new technology is targeted for adoption, analysts said. “Capacity-building is always a challenge, especially when it comes to digital,” Henry James M. Sison, founder and chief farming officer of startup Agro-DigitalPH, said on Tuesday in a webinar organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. “Digital, in this context, needs to match the target locations. Adoption is on the basis of them being able to monetize what they have. You need to shepherd these communities,”… Read more

The national innovation agency of the United Kingdom along with 10 companies have expressed interest in collaborating with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on agricultural innovation and renewable energy. According to SEARCA headed by Director Glenn Gregorio, a team from Innovate UK recently explored possible areas of partnerships, discussed their respective thrusts and activities, and toured the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation called Sharing, an interactive museum of agricultural innovation. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs, presented the National Agriculture and Fishery Modernization and… Read more

OFFICIALS and faculty of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to explore partnerships, particularly in areas of faculty development, grants and trainings. The delegates headed by USM President Dr. Francisco Gil Garcia had an exploratory meeting with officials of SEARCA headed by its director, Dr. Glenn Gregprio. Together with Garcia were Prof. Marcos Monderin, the Dean of the College of Arts; Engr. Sheila Bautista, professor of mathematics; and Dr. Ronielyn Pinsoy, chancellor, from the USM-Kidapawan Campus. With the main campus in Kabacan, Cotabato in Mindanao, USM's… Read more

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will hold a roundtable series on agriculture to foster more cooperation among stakeholders in the sector. "We are excited to partner with the BSP in this initiative to promote sustainable agriculture practices in Southeast Asia. Through this roundtable series, we hope to foster greater collaboration among key stakeholders to address the challenges faced by the region's food and agriculture systems, as well as promote sustainable development in Southeast Asia," SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said. The roundtable will gather agriculture and… Read more

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla on Tuesday, April 11, said the BSP and The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), will try to come up with a viable and sustainable agricuture systems in the region. Medalla said the partnership with SEARCA is part of the BSP’s Sustainable Central Banking (SCB) Strategy. “The central bank will continue to enhance its collaboration with knowledge platforms and research institutions, such as SEARCA, to unlock opportunities for sustainable finance and contribute to a better understanding of the complex issues surrounding this key topic,” he… Read more

FACULTY members of the Taiwan-based National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to explore areas of collaboration on science and technology. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and other SEARCA officials welcomed NDHU faculty members led by Vice President Prof. Yuan-Ron Ma during their visit on March 30, 2023. Famous for its liberal yet conducive learning atmosphere, NDHU is a renowned university in Hualien, Taiwan with three campuses at Shoufeng, Meilun and Pingtun. During the meeting, Gregorio said NDHU benchmarked SEARCA's programs and activities on science and technology. On… Read more

Stakeholders from Palawan visited Laguna province for benchmarking on Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (SEARCA) school and community gardens initiatives, also known as the School-Plus-Home Garden Program (S+HGP). SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the SEARCA-organized weeklong study visit from March 27 to 31, 2023 for the key stakeholders of Busuanga Island, Palawan was in recognition of the need for a sustainable program to foster strong partnerships among various stakeholders and develop policies that will sustain school and community gardens initiatives. Gregorio said the activity aimed to provide technical assistance to key partners from the… Read more

Cooperation and the sharing of learning to shape a better world anchored the launching of the world's first green travel mart. Ecotourism experts and environmental protection advocates from 25 nations like Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia attended the opening of the five-day International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) in Silang, Cavite which will be open to the public until April 2. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco spoke of ecotourism's role in sustainable development: "It can create jobs and generate revenue for local communities while also raising awareness about the importance of preserving natural and cultural heritage." Silang Mayor Alston Kevin… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is emboldening the students of the Batangas province-based Balete Family Farm School Inc. (BFFS) in a learning event that will enable them to refine the business plans they developed as part of their family enterprise project and gain additional learning on agripreneurship. Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, said the BFFS has the distinction of being the only all-female family farm school in Asia. The BFFS teaching and administrative staff as well as students are all female. All the students are in junior high school. "In view of… Read more