The newly appointed Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) advocates the Center’s continuous support in strengthening the academe-industry-government partnership for agricultural development and fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio formally announced his commitment as the 11th SEARCA Director during the investiture rites presided by DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones last October 28 at SEARCA’s headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.
Upon taking up his post as SEARCA Director in May 2019, he has since led the Center in constructing a strategic five-year plan.
The new director has a broad range of experience in the field of agriculture rooted in his three decades of service at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and at the East-West Seed Company Group as the crop breeding manager. He is a renowned rice scientist and Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) of the Philippines. He is also currently rendering his expertise and knowledge as a Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
Sec. Briones expressed her affirmation of SEARCA’s 11th five-year plan, which moves towards the goal of boosting connection between academe, industry, and the government by means of establishing partnerships with development aid organizations and integrating agriculture in basic education programs. The plan also aims for agricultural innovations and the development of market-driven agribusiness in Southeast Asia to modernize the agricultural sector and encourage inclusivity of of smallholder farmers.
The center also promises the fulfillment of various SDGs to improve the quality of life of people who practice agriculture through giving them sustainable source of livelihoods and better access to modern networks and markets.
SEARCA is a non-profit organization established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMO) in 1966. Its goal is to alleviate the agricultural and rural development dilemmas of Southeast Asian countries by providing high quality graduate education and training, research, and knowledge dissemination.