THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), is putting a premium on strengthening the academe, industry and government (AIG) interconnectivity to boost agricultural transformation.
SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio emphasized the pivotal role of partnership and collaborative relationships in accelerating transformation in agriculture during the first International Research Opportunities, Developments and Extension Outcomes (IRODEO) conference.
Jointly hosted by SEARCA and Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, the first IRODEO with the theme "Bridging Horizons: Integrating Knowledge for Regenerative Futures" was held on April 10 and 12, 2024 at the Masbate Coliseum.
Gregorio highlighted the need for strategic alliances among AIG to address the challenges the agriculture sector faces effectively, adding that "most of our research and capacity-building initiatives are in collaboration with like-minded institutions and networks."
"As a partner, we provide access to high quality professional expertise and technical services from the academe and governments in the Southeast Asian region in agriculture and rural development," he added.
He also shared one notable research partnership opportunity which was the Consortium for Agricultural Development, Research and Extension or CADRE, a regional network "to address pressing agricultural issues through research and extension activities."
Additionally, Gregorio mentioned SEARCA's efforts in leading the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture's learning alliance working group which "seeks to support research initiatives on agriculture and sustainable development and creates market-driven solutions that contribute toward lifting smallholder livelihoods."
Concerning capacity building, Gregorio introduced SEARCA's joint scholarship projects with various universities, research institutions and government agencies, such as the German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD, Agropolis Fondation, Tokyo University of Agriculture or Tokyo NODAI, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Sejong University, National Taiwan University, and Philippine Carabao Center, among others.
He also introduced the Southeast Asian University Consortium (UC) for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, a network of esteemed universities in Southeast Asia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan, to which SEARCA serves as the secretariat.
Moreover, Gregorio also discussed the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)-funded project Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources or LevelUPHEI AFAR aimed to advance Philippine HEIs in agriculture, fisheries and natural resources toward enhanced relevance and competitiveness in the 21st century.
About innovation, he said SEARCA plans to develop a carbon farming consortium to generate carbon credits and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while raising rice farmers' incomes.
Gregorio also underscored the Grants for Research toward Agricultural Innovative Solutions or GRAINS which aims to catalyze knowledge transfer and technology adoption in agriculture, citing other joint undertakings in online and face-to-face conferences and seminars and publications.
Meanwhile, visiting professor at the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance and SEARCA senior fellow, Dr. Eing-Ming Wu, served as one of the plenary speakers and discussed advancing smart public governance across services, infrastructure, people, and financial management.
SEARCA hosted an institutional exhibit during the conference through its Partnership Unit to showcase its publications on smart agriculture, coastal resources management, environmental studies, gender and development, and information materials on its programs and services.
The conference was supported by the Masbate provincial government; Masbate City government; Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University; University of the Sunshine Coast; International Cross-Cultural Exchange and Professional Development; University of Western Australia; Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges; Rodeo Masbateño; Rotary International; and Liceo de Masbate.