SEARCA News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted Dr. Enno Bahrs under its Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) on 10 December at the Drilon Hall, SEARCA Headquarters. He presented the results of their research project on Agriculture 4.0 without Chemical Synthetic Plant Protection (NOcsPS), which explored alternative cropping systems that eliminate the use of chemical synthetic plant protection products (commonly referred to as pesticide-free) while optimizing the use of mineral fertilizers. Dr. Bahrs is the Head of the Department of Agricultural Business Management at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Dr. Bahrs explained… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted Dr. Dominic Glover under its Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) on 5 December at the Drilon Hall, SEARCA Headquarters. Dr. Glover introduced a groundbreaking approach to understanding technological change in agriculture, moving beyond the traditional concept of adoption. Titled Beyond Adaptation: A Technographic Approach to Analyzing and Understanding Technological Change in Agriculture, Dr. Glover presented the PEDRO framework (Proposition, Encounter, Disposition, Response, and Outcome) that highlights the diverse actors and varying forms of agency involved in technological change, focusing on the role of technological practitioners… Read more

The Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), spearheaded a three-day Introductory Training on Agri-Robotics at Tarlac Agricultural University's Farmer's Training Center (TAU-FTC) on 2–4 December 2024. The training aimed to inspire students and faculty to leverage technology in advancing agriculture in the Philippines. The event brought together Information and Technology (IT) and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) students, as well as TAU faculty members. The participants were warmly welcomed by Dr. Silverio Ramon Salunson, President of TAU, who emphasized the critical role of technology in modernizing… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines—Around 800 students from various Philippine basic education schools participated in a session of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (SEARCA) Sowing Seeds: Cultivating Youth's Future in Agriculture held on 14 December 2024 at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). This event, organized in partnership with UA&P, aimed to inspire young individuals to engage in agriculture and pursue higher education in agriculture and related fields. Mr. Francis Perdigon from Perdigon Farm in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines, a licensed agriculturist and the first youth Lakbay Bukid awardee, served as… Read more

The 2024 Science Film Festival, organized by the Goethe Institut and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Development Communication (CDC) - Department of Science Communication, featured the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)'s Sowing Seeds: Cultivating Youth's Future in Agriculture. Sowing Seeds is a career orientation initiative aimed at encouraging Southeast Asian youth to engage in agriculture. It was implemented through SEARCA's Partnerships Unit (PU) as part of the Center's Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI) program. Four Sowing Seeds sessions held on 11–12 December 2024 at the SEARCA Drilon… Read more

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), in line with the commitment to advance sustainable agricultural practices and improving food and nutritional security in Cambodia, conducted a training program on Sustainable Food Production and Basic Food Processing on 26–28 November 2024 at the CE SAIN Office in the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA). It was attended by 22 participants, comprising agricultural coordinators and agricultural extension officers of the Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs), teachers, school heads, and principals… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has conducted a training program on sustainability for stakeholders of the School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) in Rizal Province. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of educators and technical personnel from municipal and barangay levels, promote collaboration among local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies, and advocate for sustainable agricultural practices through school and home gardening. Such efforts aim to establish a more resilient food system, improve nutrition, and generate entrepreneurial opportunities. The training was participated in by twenty-four (24) participants, comprising teachers… Read more

Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), was the speaker during the Sustainability Series webinar titled Farming: A Poor Man's Job? Motioned to Change the Perspective of Students on Farming, held on 29 November 2024 via Zoom. Organized by the League of Warriors, a student organization of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Laguna, the webinar was attended by LPU-Laguna students. The webinar highlighted the role of agriculture in society and showcased the field as a dynamic and rewarding career option to inspire the students to appreciate and… Read more

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Dr. Nur Azura Binti Adam, Deputy Director for Programs of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), underscored the Center's dedication to advancing sustainable agricultural development during the Taiwan-Asia Vegetable Initiative (TAsVI) Seed Homecoming Ceremony held in Taipei on 3 December 2024. The event highlighted the collaborative efforts of national genebanks in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, alongside the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), to protect and effectively manage Southeast Asia's vegetable biodiversity. The TAsVI project aims to create a robust platform for the rescue, conservation, and… Read more

TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – As part of the "Development of Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon" project, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized an exposure and learning trip (Lakbay Aral) for Quezon coconut farmers to visit lambanog processing sites in Tayabas City. Lambanog is a traditional liquor made from distilling fermented coconut sap. The activity aimed to improve the farmers' skills and knowledge in value-addition, specifically in lambanog production. Twenty farmers from the municipalities of Catanauan, Lopez, Candelaria, and Sariaya participated in the activity. They learned about the different… Read more