SEARCA News

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – SEARCA welcomed a new batch of alumni for AY 2019-2020 with 23 scholars earning a Master's degree and 28 earning a PhD degree. This year's celebration is different from the past with the pandemic halting most of the activities such as the physical graduation ceremonies. SEARCA's annual Testimonial Program held last 02 July 2020 was also slimmed down to accommodate social distancing measures. Of the total number of graduates, 31 were under the SEARCA Full MS/PhD Program while 10 are from the Joint Scholarship programs, namely, DAAD-SEARCA, PCC-SEARCA, NU-SEARCA, UPM-SEARCA. Another 10 graduates came from the… Read more

"The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the connections between supply chains and our consumption patterns, and the urgent need to redefine agricultural systems as food systems. A systemic view of agricultural food systems is imperative for the needed transformation, which should stem right from the hallowed halls of the universities and colleges." This is the analysis of Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director, and Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Operations Consultant for Emerging Innovation for Growth, both of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in a SEARCA policy brief titled "Reshaping Agricultural Research and Development in… Read more

The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has appointed Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), as Chairperson of the CHED Technical Panel for Agriculture (TPA). CHED said it "has appointed new technical panel members in the fields of public administration and agriculture to carry out the mandate of the Commission to harness the equal representation of the academe, government and industry in curriculum reform and ensure that academic programs produce the needed manpower for local and international needs." The academe is represented in the TPA by Dr… Read more

As part of the initiatives to encourage young people to create societal change, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) once again organized the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagement (SOLVE) webinar on "Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia" on 12 August 2020 via Zoom and Facebook. This webinar is the second installment of the August webinar series on gender and youth in ARD. The first installment last week highlighted youth disengagement in agriculture. It addressed challenges faced by the youth as well as how to create opportunities in gearing… Read more

Now on its stage of project implementation, the Philippine component of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded project titled, Rural Regional Transformation: Pathways, Policy Sequencing, and Development Outcomes in China, the Philippines, and Vietnam (RRT), held its first of the two series of online stakeholders' validation meetings via Zoom video conferencing platform last 07 August. The RRT project aims to describe the rural transformation process and is designed to develop a better understanding of the different aspects of rural transformation including the following: pathways of rural transformation; sets of policies that can contribute to the success of rural transformation… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has formally launched its special program on youth called "Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI)" on 12 August 2020, the United Nations International Youth Day. #Y4AGRI was introduced during the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagement (SOLVE) webinar with the theme "Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia." Mr. Sonny P. Pasiona, SEARCA Communications Associate on Partnerships and Youth Program Focal Person, presented #Y4AGRI as an overarching program that builds on SEARCA's decades of experience in training the next generation of leaders in Southeast… Read more

The Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) published a monograph series under the project "Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Technologies and Enterprises" commissioned by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). The monograph series gives information and analyzes the profitability and financial viability of selected products and technologies funded and promoted by DA-BAR. The project also aimed to stress the importance of conducting thorough research and analysis to attract potential adopters and investors in developing products and technologies. A volume in the monograph series discusses the technology and investment profile of… Read more

Under the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)-commissioned project "Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Technologies and Enterprises," the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) published a monograph series to analyze the profitability and financial viability of selected products and technologies funded and promoted by DA-BAR. The project also aimed to stress the importance of conducting thorough research and analysis to attract potential adopters and investors to venture emerging agricultural products and technologies. Soya chips is one of products featured in the monograph series. It was developed by Ms. Marilou Lagdameo… Read more

The Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) published a monograph series to provide information and analyze the profitability and financial viability of selected products and technologies funded and promoted by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). The monograph as produced under the DA-BAR project "Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Technologies and Enterprises." The project also aimed to stress the importance of conducting thorough research and analysis to attract potential adopters and investors in developing products and technologies. One of the products featured in the monograph series is Pinoy GOURmix. This… Read more

The Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) organized a session on research and development (R&D) proposal evaluation and project review process held online via Zoom and YouTube on 10 August 2020. This is in line with the month-long celebration of the 40th PAASE anniversary and 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting (APAMS) Philippines with a conference theme, "Outreach to Philippine Regions." Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, the Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD-DOST) led a discussion of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) system for R&D grant proposal evaluation and project overview. Mr. Joel H. Lales… Read more