SEARCA News

The 36th Executive Board Meeting of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) took place on 30-31 October 2023 and was hosted by the National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. Delegates from regular member institutions attended the meeting including Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), IPB University (IPB), and Universitas Brawijaya (UB) all from Indonesia, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The meeting also extended invitations to the two UC Associate Members, Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) in Japan and the National Taiwan… Read more

Mr. Vassily Carantino, chief executive officer, and Mr. James Hastwell, chief technology officer, both of CarbonFarm, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 26 October 2023 to discuss their monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) initiatives and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Accompanying them was Mr. Craig Jamieson, director and founder of Straw Innovations Ltd. CarbonFarm is a French climate-tech startup established in 2022, which harnesses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and certify decarbonization projects. They have worked with academic and research institutions, such as Cornell University, the European Space Agency… Read more

SIEM REAP, Cambodia—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), one of the 26 specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), convened its 71st Governing Board Meeting (GBM) on 2 October 2023. This year's GBM, which took place at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia, marked a significant milestone for the Center as it was the first time after five years that the meeting was held outside the country. The meeting opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director, which set the tone… Read more

Dr. Mirza Mofazzal Islam, director general, and Dr. Shamsun Nahar Begum, chief scientific officer and Plant Breeding Division head, both of the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), paid a courtesy visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 23 October 2023. BINA, formerly known as Atomic Energy Agricultural Research Centre, is a national institute prominent for its well-equipped laboratories and field research facilities. The visitors were briefed on SEARCA's mandate, programs, and services. During the meeting, Dr. Islam discussed BINA's mission and focus areas. "BINA's mission is to double agricultural productivity… Read more

Mr. David Chen, chief executive officer of AgriG8, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 20 October 2023. With him were Mr. Joshua Tan, chief operating officer; Dr. Vanessa Teo, chief technology officer; and Ms. Qian Yu Ho, project manager. AgriG8 was part of SEARCA and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)'s Roundtable Discussion (RTD) Series on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems in Southeast Asia held in April 2023. Mr. Chen served as a panelist in the sessions on digital economies for the food and agriculture sector and promoting carbon farming in agriculture… Read more

A delegation from the Department of Human and Community Resource Development (HCRD)-Faculty of Education and Development Sciences of the Kasetsart University (KU)-Kamphaeng Saen Campus, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Varaporn Yamtim, deputy dean for Research and Academic Service, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 19 October 2023 to explore scholarships, grants, and capacity-building opportunities for their faculty and students. She was joined by KU-Kamphaeng Saen Campus faculty members, Asst. Prof. Dr. Issaree Supnui, Asst. Prof. Dr. Supharuk Aticomsuwan, Assoc Prof. Dr. Sunti Srisuantang, and Ms. Orawan Boontu. During the meeting, the… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Partnerships Unit, and the United Laboratories, Inc. (Unilab), the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, conducted a half-day Seminar on Health and Financial Literacy for Smallholder Farmers held on 16 October 2023 at the SEARCA Drilon Hall. The seminar, attended by 17 farmers from Timugan, Los Baños, Laguna, aimed to educate and inspire farmers to make informed decisions in their financial endeavors, marketing strategies, and daily dietary habits. In his welcome remarks, Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, SEARCA deputy director for administration, gave an overview of… Read more

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) educators and practitioners from six countries have completed a blended course on climate-smart villages (CSV), which was jointly conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in September 2023 via Zoom and onsite in the Philippines. Titled Climate-Smart Villages as Platforms for Community-Level Anticipatory Climate Adaptation to Improve Food Security and Resiliency: A Roving Workshop, the blended course started with 22 participants in a two-day webinar on 19-20 September 2023. Renowned speakers on agriculture, nutrition, food systems, community innovations, and nature-based solutions… Read more

Dr. Pheak Sothea, deputy director general for administration, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, Cambodia, paid a courtesy visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 9 October 2023. Dr. Sothea is a former SEARCA scholar who earned his MS and PhD in Community Development from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in 2006 and 2010, respectively. His homecoming coincided with his recognition as one of the 2023 UPLB College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) Distinguished Alumni. During his visit, Dr. Sothea reminisced about his student days… Read more

The 5th UC Faculty Forum, with a theme Sustainable Agriculture Under Changing Climate, has recently gathered faculty researchers to share and discuss the pressing challenges and opportunities in agriculture in the context of a changing climate. The event was held on 20–21 September 2023 in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. The Forum was the first major event hosted and co-organized by the Visayas State University (VSU) for the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). The opening ceremony was graced by key officials of the UC led by Dr. Edgardo Tulin, VSU president, Dr. Glenn… Read more