SEARCA in the News

Philippine-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has formally installed Glenn B. Gregorio as its 11th director. Hosted by the Philippine government on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), SEARCA is one of the oldest specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). SEARCA was founded in 1966 to serve the agricultural and rural development needs of Southeast Asian countries through graduate education and training, research, and knowledge dissemination. Gregorio assumed office in May 2019. He brings to SEARCA his wide experience from three decades of… Read more
"The reality of digitalizing agriculture is won or lost at the farmer level, where applicability and sustainability have to be tested," a top official of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said. SEARCA director Glenn Gregorio said they were "working toward elevating the quality of life of farmers by improving their access to new, sustainable, resilient production technologies and systems and help them integrate with modern postharvest and logistics systems." Speaking before hundreds of scientists, researchers, and educators at the 25th Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines (FCSSP) and the 1st… Read more
One of the key issues confronting Philippine agriculture (and the rest of the world!) is to what extent organic agriculture should be pushed to replace the current mainstream agricultural practices, also collectively referred to, as conventional agriculture. This was the theme of the public consultation organized by the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines, Inc. (CAMP), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD-DOST), and the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), College of Agriculture and Food Science held at UP Los… Read more

Farm fun in Cebu

26 October 2019
A gift that keeps on giving, Cebu, with all its attractions, is also home to a host of garden and farm-themed resorts, attracting visitors looking to learn more about farming and organic food. Located in the upland barangays are Sirao Flower Farm, Jaime Chua's Orchid Farm, Adlawon Vacation Farm, MSDEA Ornamental Garden, Terrazas de Flores, Serenity Farm and Resort, and Lava Mountain River Farm, which have been continuously drawing tourists from all over the country. North of the city are Valentin Farm and Resort in Consolacion and Alhibe Farm in Carmen, which further strengthen Cebu's status as an emerging farm… Read more
CEBU IS SYNONYMOUS to Sinulog Festival, colonial-era houses and churches, succulent lechon and seafood, and powdery beaches, and luxury hotels. But unknown to many, the Queen City of the South is also home to a host of garden and farm-themed resorts in the upland villages where tourists can enjoy crisp mountain air, fresh and organic food, and recreational amenities, away from the madding crowd and traffic. And among the farm resorts which have been drawing visitors are Sirao Flower Farm, Jaime Chua's Orchid Farm, Adlawon Vacation Farm, MSDEA Ornamental Garden, Terrazas de Flores, Serenity Farm and Resort, and Lava Mountain… Read more
The use of genetic modification, including genomic selection and molecular marker-assisted breeding, to improve certain traits of plants, crop improvement could become long process to develop a commercially ready product, which is why some plant scientists shy away from it. Glenn Gregorio, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), said many are impatient with that process and offer better techniques and tools to shorten the process, but still fail in the implementation of a new breeding program. Gregorio stated this position as speaker at the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA)-Korean… Read more
LOS BANOS, Laguna, Oct. 17 -- The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) reiterated its call to mainstream biodiversity into the food production systems, underscoring the benefits of biodiversity-rich approaches to the food security agenda. "It's high time to rethink and innovate the way we produce our food. Diverse food production systems can better nourish and improve the health of both rural and urban population, not to mention biodiversity's role in building resilience to climate change," ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim said on the occasion of the World Food Day. World Food Day is celebrated on 16 October every year… Read more
Even with the use of genetic modification—including genomic selection and molecular marker-assisted breeding—to improve certain traits of plants, crop improvement is still crucial to develop a commercially ready product. Hence, modern crop breeding program is recommended in Asia. "Many are impatient with this process and offer better techniques and tools to shorten the process, but still fail in the implementation of a new breeding program," said Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Gregorio, an eminent rice scientist, said this as he spoke at the Association of Academies and… Read more
SEOUL, South Korea – Even with the use of genetic modification — including genomic selection and molecular marker-assisted breeding — to improve certain traits of plants, crop improvement is a long process of developing a commercially ready product. "Many are impatient with this process and offer better techniques and tools to shorten the process, but still fail in the implementation of a new breeding program," said Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), an eminent rice scientist, and a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology… Read more
SEOUL, Korea – Even with the use of genetic modification—including genomic selection and molecular marker-assisted breeding—to improve certain traits of plants, crop improvement is a long process of developing a commercially ready product. "Many are impatient with this process and offer better techniques and tools to shorten the process, but still fail in the implementation of a new breeding program," said Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), an eminent rice scientist, and a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Philippines. Speaking at the… Read more
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