SEARCA in the News

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) championed carbon-smart agriculture during a sustainability webinar on March 7. In his keynote address at the Webinar on Challenges, Opportunities and Innovation Strategies in Managing Protected Forests for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability, SEARCA Center Director Glenn Gregorio said, "Agriculture and biodiversity conservation are often framed as conflicting pursuits — as if we must sacrifice one for the other." He said that the real challenge is not choosing between agriculture and biodiversity conservation but finding ways to make agriculture a partner in conservation. The webinar was organized and… Read more

The winners of the SEARCA Photo Contest 2024 captured the future of farming with stunning images showcasing sustainability and innovation. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched the contest in November 2024 with the theme "The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture." Top Winners: Showcasing Smart Farming First Prize: Jayson Berto (Philippines) won for his photo of a university student tending a hydroponics tower garden—an urban farming system that saves space and water. Berto hopes this image encourages more young people to explore modern farming. Second Prize: Klienne Eco (Philippines) captured a… Read more

Brimming with sustainability and innovation, the winning images of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Photo Contest 2024 envision a future where farming thrives in harmony with nature. Launched in November 2024 with the theme "The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture," the 18th edition of SEARCA's annual competition awarded Jayson Berto of the Philippines the top prize for his striking photograph of a university student tending a hydroponics tower garden—a resource-efficient urban farming system that maximizes space and conserves water. "Crop growing is cooler with the hydroponics tower garden of the… Read more

Local agriculture startup Mayani is advancing two pre-cooling storage facilities in Batangas and Benguet provinces in the Philipines. The aim is to extend the shelf life of vegetables and other produce, thereby reducing post-harvest losses. Mayani co-founder and CEO JT Solis disclosed that the company secured approximately $1 million in catalytic capital from the Temasek Trust ecosystem for this development. Solis anticipates the pre-cooling facilities to commence operations in the second quarter of this year. Each facility is designed to store 15 to 20 metric tons of produce, with construction timelines ranging from 45 to 65 days. "The two pre-cooling… Read more

The following link will take you to INQUIRER.net:Mayani to put up 2 more cooling facilities for vegetableshttps://business.inquirer.net/513423/mayani-to-put-up-2-more-cooling-facilities-for-vegetables… Read more

Known for decades as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines," General Santos City, more popularly known as GenSan, has earned a new moniker as an emerging farm tourism hub in Mindanao. It recently hosted the 8th Philippine International Farm Tourism Conference, the country's largest gathering of practitioners and authorities on farm tourism. Organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) under former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, the event had the full support of the City Government of Gen. Santos and was held at the city's favored MICE venue, the KCC Mall. Themed "Stimulating Sustainable Economic Growth in Rural Communities… Read more

'Agriculture and biodiversity conservation are often framed as conflicting pursuits—as if we must sacrifice one for the other. But the real challenge is not about choosing between them. It's about finding ways to make agriculture a partner in conservation," emphasized Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Gregorio was the keynote speaker at the "Webinar on Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovation Strategies in Managing Protected Forests for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability" held on March 7, a SEARCA news release said. The webinar was organized and hosted by the Central Mindanao… Read more

Binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng pagtutulungan ng iba't ibang sektor sa pagpapatibay ng serbisyong pampubliko sa ginanap na symposium ng University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Ugnayan ng Pahinungód noong ika-10 ng Marso 2025 sa NCAS Auditorium. Ito ay may temang "Strengthening the Foundations of Public Service Initiatives Through Partnership." Dinaluhan ng 89 katao mula sa iba't ibang grupo ng mga mag-aaral, guro, at kawani ng UPLB ang symposium na layuning talakayin ang importansiya ng serbisyong pampubliko mula sa iba't ibang lente ng mga piling sektor ng lipunan. Binuksan ni Dr. Agham C. Cuevas, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs… Read more

Villgro Philippines, a gender-smart incubator supporting impact-driven enterprises, has partnered with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to jointly run the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Accelerator. This virtual accelerator program is designed to support high-potential enterprises developing regenerative, climate-resilient solutions that address food security and sustainable agriculture challenges in Southeast Asia. With agriculture serving as a backbone for millions across the region, the sector faces escalating threats from climate change, extreme weather events, unsustainable farming practices, and food waste. The SAFE Accelerator aims to cultivate market-driven, climate-resilient solutions that protect… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A gender-smart incubator supporting impact-driven enterprises has partnered with the Southeast Asian center for research in agriculture to run the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Accelerator. Villgro Philippines and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered to manage SAFE Accelerator, a virtual accelerator program designed to support high-potential enterprises developing regenerative, climate-resilient solutions that address food security and sustainable agriculture challenges in Southeast Asia. The SAFE Accelerator aims to cultivate market-driven, climate-resilient solutions that protect biodiversity, sustain farming communities, and improve food security. With agriculture as the backbone for… Read more