SEARCA News

True to its mandate of empowering local communities amidst the ongoing pandemic, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Rotary Club of Los Baños Makiling (RCLB Makiling), and Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help Los Baños (LATCH LB) to provide support to the Municipality of Los Baños through the Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO) in enhancing food security and nutrition among mothers and children. The signing ceremony of the LOA was held on 3 March 2022 at the SEARCA Headquarters. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, Mr… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), together with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), conducted a virtual National Policy Forum for a recently completed Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project titled “Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines.” Held on 21 February 2022, the forum focused on the presentation of results of the value chain analysis conducted on the three identified fruit and vegetables, namely, onion, tomato, and mango. Usec. Evelyn Laviña, Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines, commenced the… Read more

The final session of the e-training titled, Trainers’ Training for Integrating the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) in the Establishment of Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia, concluded on 2 March 2022, via Zoom platform. This has been the online learning event organized and implemented by 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 partnership with the Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). The training program is designed under the… Read more

Seventeen students of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) along with their professors and NDCP academic support staff led by Prof. Dr. Alan A. Lachica, Professor III, on 17 February 2022. The students are composed of 11 military officers from the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force; two military officers from Indonesia and Pakistan; and four civilians from the Philippine government and the private sector. The delegation is part of the 65 MNSA Regular Course 57… Read more

As part of the ongoing project on Leveling Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) funded by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED),  the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched the 10-week Online Training Course on Research Designs and Methods for Higher Education Institutions (Research4HEIs) in the Philippines on 14 February 2022  via the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagements (SOLVE) platform. Eighteen mid- to junior faculty members, researchers, and education leaders from 16 State Universities and Colleges – Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines… Read more

The e-training titled, Trainers’ Training for Integrating the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) in the Establishment of Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia, conducted its 8th and 9th session on 16 and 23 February 2022, respectively, via the Zoom platform. The learning event is an ongoing training program organized and implemented by 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 partnership with the Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). The… Read more

Twenty-three (23) faculty members from ten (10) institutions of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) participated in the 3rd Faculty Forum with the theme "Agricultural Science for a Better World" held on 19-20 January 2022 and hosted by the Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo-NODAI). The UC Faculty Forum is an annual event that aims to provide an opportunity for faculty members from UC members to develop camaraderie, encourage transdisciplinary studies, and promote greater integration of research through strategic partnerships for collaboration. This activity is also a way to further strengthen the relationship… Read more

As part of the technical assistance (TA) to the Philippines of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded Project Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns (ATMI-ASEAN), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), conducted the online Inception Workshop for the Development of the Philippine Processed Pork Roadmap cum Policy Roundtable Discussion on 16 February 2022. In his Welcome Remarks, Dr. Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA Director, mentioned the timeliness and relevance of this initiative given how the… Read more

Aside from achieving food security, sources of income and livelihood may also come in through establishing school-plus-home gardens. This was the highlight of the 7th session of the e-training titled, Trainers’ Training for Integrating the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) in Agricultural Technology Parks (ATPs) and Mini-ATPs in Cambodia on 9 February 2022, via the Zoom platform. This learning event is a collaborative undertaking between 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 partnership with the Kansas State University… Read more

The Valentine’s Season usually celebrates romantic love, friendship and admiration. But for the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), it is a month to showcase staff’s growing appreciation for edible landscaping and greening initiatives. Love is in the air The SEARCA Greening Project is an initiative that promotes “local food for the local good” among its internal and external stakeholders. “It is a brainchild of the Office of the Director that aims to inspire the staff, scholars and the community to grow our own food while consciously choosing healthful produce over processed food,” said… Read more