SEARCA News

LAGUNA, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has joined with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Calauan Sub-office and the Local Government Unit of Calauan, Laguna to launch the Project OSEL, or "Oplan School Edible Landscaping." This initiative aims to strengthen the schools in Calauan by promoting sustainable practices such as establishing edible gardens. By integrating edible landscaping, the project seeks to enhance environmental awareness, promote sustainable agriculture, and contribute to food security within the educational community. The program commenced with a heartfelt welcome from Ms. Mylene Gutierrez, Principal III of Calauan Central… Read more

The third run of the ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP III) officially started through its opening session and first module lectures held virtually from 22 to 23 January 2025. The 29 official participants representing Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam were selected out of over a hundred applicants across the ASEAN Member States. Following the successful implementation of the previous runs in 2020 and 2021, this is the first time that ACLP has offered in a blended learning modality through online and face-to-face sessions that will be held in Bali, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is collaborating with the Postgraduate Micro-Credentials in Food Security and Climate Change (PMCFSCC) Project and the Regional SEARCA Alumni Association (RSAA) to organize the conference titled "Innovation Meets Education: Building Pathways for Food Security and Resilience to Climate Change." This event will showcase the research achievements of 13 selected SEARCA scholars and alumni for the Academic Year 2024–2025. The conference is set to take place from 10–12 February 2025, at the Amari Hotel in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand and held back-to-back with the ERASMUS+-funded project PMC FSCC's… Read more

Seventeen Agroentrepreneurship National Certificate II students and three BB Agriventures OPC Farm School trainers visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 21 January 2025. They were welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration. BB Agriventures OPC Farm School is an integrated farm focusing on organic agriculture and sustainable livelihood in Sampaloc, Quezon, Philippines. It is a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) partner in implementing scholarship programs on national certificates on agroentrepreneurship, agricultural crop production, and organic agriculture. During the visit, Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Program Specialist… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized the Training Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy from 21–23 January 2025 as part of its commitment to nurturing future leaders and innovators in agriculture and rural development. Fifteen SEARCA scholars from various institutions such as Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), IPB University in Indonesia, and Benguet State University in the Philippines traveled to Los Baños, Laguna to attend the learning event. The training workshop was led by Adjunct Professor Wilfredo… Read more

PASAY CITY, Philippines—Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and 2024 Outstanding Professional of the Year in the field of Agriculture, delivered an inspiring message to the new generation of licensed agriculturists as he served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker at the Oathtaking Ceremony of New Agriculturists at the Philippine International Convention Center on 20 January 2025. The event was hosted by the Professional Regulation Commission. Dr. Gregorio congratulated the more than 3,000 newly registered professional agriculturists for their hard work and acknowledged their parents' unwavering… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD), and the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) jointly launched an evaluation project through a kick-off meeting on 22 January 2025 at the SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. SEARCA was commissioned by the DA-PRDP to conduct the project titled Combined Endline and Baseline Evaluation Study for the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, Assessing the Original Loan (OL), First Additional Financing (AF1) and Second Additional Financing (AF2) and Establishing Baseline for PRDP Scale-Up. Started… Read more

The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), an internationally peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), celebrates two decades of contributing to the knowledge base of Asian agriculture and development through a paper seminar, featuring the presentation and discussion of two published articles in the AJAD 20th Anniversary Issue. The anniversary revolves around the theme, "AJAD's First Twenty Years: Evolving Knowledge and Practice in Asian Agriculture and Rural Development." Dubbed AJAD@20, the celebratory program and paper seminar is slated for 3 February 2025, 9:30 a.m., at the SEARCA Umali… Read more

SEARCA is set to conduct a three-day, face-to-face Training-Workshop on Bridging Research into Policy from 21–23 January 2025 as part of its commitment to nurturing leaders and innovators in agriculture, rural development, and related fields. The course, organized by the SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department, was designed exclusively for the Center's scholars and aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively translate research findings into actionable policies, promoting evidence-informed policymaking and practice. Sixteen SEARCA scholars across different scholarship programs studying at Kasetsart University in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Nagoya University in Japan, Universiti… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Graduate Study Program has expanded its reach beyond Southeast Asia to advance South-South cooperation by awarding a scholarship to a Liberian for the first time. Mr. Apatens Gardiner, a Master of Science in Agronomy student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, was granted the SEARCA scholarship in July 2024. Mr. Apatens graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture with honors from William V. S. Tubman University, a public university in Maryland County, Liberia. During his undergraduate studies, he served as the Student President… Read more