SEARCA News

Every year, 300–400 million tons of rice straws are burned as waste or left in flooded paddy fields across Asia, emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) and worsening the climate. Despite the environmental laws prohibiting the improper disposal of rice straws, such as the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act 9003) and the Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act 8749), a PhilRice report in 2016 shows that 70 percent of rice farmers burn rice straws (Sapnu, 2016). To resolve this dilemma, Straw Innovations Ltd. has partnered with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture… Read more

SEARCA has partnered with the Regional SEARCA Alumni Association (RSAA) to host a conference, "Cultivating Tomorrow: SEARCA's Insights for Agriculture's Future"on 25–26 April 2024, at SEARCA in Los Baños, Laguna. The conference aims to showcase the research accomplishments of selected SEARCA scholars as of AY 2023–24 and raise awareness of their role in the future of agriculture. It also seeks to provide a platform for sharing information, practices, knowledge, and skills generated from research and development activities; thereby strengthening the relationship among scholars and alumni. During the two-day conference, 22 scholars will present their research in five sessions: agriculture policy… Read more

CAVINTI, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) Cavinti, Laguna Sub-office in implementing the fourth district-wide evaluation of the school and home gardens or the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) held from 25 to 26 March 2024. With the theme "Sustaining School-plus-Home Gardens Program Through Continuous Partnership and Linkages," Ms. Soledad Villanueva, public school district supervisor of Cavinti Sub-office and overall program chairperson, expressed gratitude for the continuous and valuable support of SEARCA and their other partners during the opening program. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn… Read more

Mr. Benjamin Leong, deputy managing director of the International Department of the International Cultural Communication Center Malaysia (ICCCM), visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 20 March 2024 to introduce the International Transnational Education Association (ITEA) and discuss potential areas of collaboration. ICCCM serves as secretariat to ITEA, a non-profit organization that promotes and fosters synergy among institutions and individuals involved in transnational education. With a global network of members, it aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of educational opportunities across borders. During the meeting, Mr. Leong learned about SEARCA's mandate… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and The Head Foundation (THF) kicked off the 2024 Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions (LDP-HEIs) in Southeast Asia with 23 HEIs represented on 14 March 2024 via Microsoft Teams. Now on its sixth run, this cohort is composed of 33 participants across six countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. They are composed of university presidents, faculty deans, department heads, and other HEI leaders with administrative positions. Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, deputy director for programs of SEARCA, encouraged the participants… Read more

Celebrating the achievements of women and creating opportunities for them to be part of the discussion and promote inclusivity, especially in the agricultural sector, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Center and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) together with the Philippines Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA), held the "WE Can Do It: Empowering Women in Agriculture" Forum on 13 March 2024 at the BGC Community Farm by Urban Farmers PH, Taguig City, Philippines. Ms. Angel Bautista, Country Director of PPSA, encouraged everyone to step up and become champions for women, especially women in agriculture who are sustaining food systems globally… Read more

PAMPANGA, Philippines—Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), spotlighted agricultural education's role in revolutionizing the agriculture sector during the 1st International Conference on Agricultural Sciences and Technology (ICAST) 2024 held on 13–15 March 2024 at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Angeles City. Under the theme, "Digitally Sustaining Our Future: Exploring the Application of Emerging Technologies for Food Security and Sustainability," the conference showcased productive discussions and exchanges on the benefits of smart farming technologies and innovations, circular economy, agribusiness, and agricultural extension and development. In his keynote address… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (SEARCA) Youth in Agri Talk Show aired its second episode on 16 February 2024 at 7:00 p.m. (GMT +8:00) on the Center's Facebook page. The episode "Winged Warriors: The Unsung Heroes of Agri-Land" has garnered over 5,000 views in its first 24 hours and more than 120,000 views in less than a month. Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs and an entomologist, served as the guest expert. Students from HFSE International School in Singapore, SMK Seri Jempol in Malaysia, and Colegio de San Juan de… Read more

BOHOL, Philippines—Inclusive farm tourism was the resounding message of Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) during his keynote address at the 7th Philippine Farm Tourism Conference held on 26–28 February 2024 at the Bellevue Resort. The conference was co-presented by the Center and the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) and was hosted by the Provincial Government of Bohol, Philippines. Themed "Farm Tourism: Consciousness for Healthy Living and New Experiences," the conference featured success stories on sustainable growth through cultivating fruit and vegetable farms, aquaculture and artisanal… Read more

Negros Occidental, Philippines —The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to unveil its groundbreaking approach to agri-mechanization through open-systems tractors, reaching far and wide, particularly in the Visayas region. The recent collaboration with RU Foundry in Bacolod has resulted in the completion of the enhanced Oggun Tractor, an open-systems design tractor that is being locally manufactured in the Philippines. SEARCA's General Service Unit, together with the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department, inspected the newly designed tractor, which is tailored to meet the unique needs of farming communities in the region. The upgraded… Read more