SEARCA in the News

A SIMPLE setup called an anaerobic digester which converts organic matter into biogas is key to the innovation that Muntinlupa City is showing as a way to turn farm waste into clean cooking fuel. Along with composting machines, the city takes the path to zero-waste agriculture and a circular economy with this technology at the Environmental Sanitation Center (ESC) in Tunasan. The ESC is committed to achieving a successful ecological solid waste management system by operating a citywide waste segregation project. It encourages all stakeholders to purposefully sort out waste and utilize these as inputs to production, ultimately achieving a… Read more

OPEN to both professional and amateur photographers, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Photo Contest is still accepting submissions until Dec. 30, 2023. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the photo contest is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. For its 17th year, the annual photo contest zooms in on the theme "Regenerating agri-ecosystems, lowering global boiling," which aims to highlight technologies and practices in agriculture that help mitigate the worsening effects of climate change. Gregorio said no other than United Nations… Read more

The Asian Institute of Technology's recent international gatherings have set new standards in responsible aquaculture, educational excellence, and global collaboration, propelling the industry toward a brighter, more sustainable future. In a series of groundbreaking aquaculture advancements, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has once again affirmed its leadership in fostering sustainable practices within Asia and beyond. A trio of international events hosted by AIT’s Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AARM)—the International Fisheries Symposium, the Recent Advances in Tropical Aquaculture training, and the Giant Prawn Conference—have collectively charted a new course for responsible aquaculture and fisheries management. Catalysing Innovation and Collaboration… Read more

SCIENCE, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program students at the Reedley International School visited the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to explore the role of robotics in agriculture. Reedley International School is a private, nonsectarian, nontraditional, co-educational school in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines that combines progressive and traditional learning approaches. Accompanied by their teachers and guardians, the 14 Grade 12 international students participated in a robotics learning session and toured the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) on December 7, 2023. At the SHARING… Read more

Fourteen Grade 12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program students at the Reedley International School visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on December 7. The field trip aimed at exploring the role of robotics in agriculture, said SEARCA's Zara Mae Estareja. Reedley International School is a private, nonsectarian, nontraditional, co-educational school in Pasig City in Metro Manila, that combines progressive and traditional learning approaches. During the visit, the students, accompanied by their teachers and guardians, participated in a robotics learning session at the SHARING Café and toured the SEARCA Hub for… Read more

TWO faculty members of Central Mindanao University (CMU) participated in the "Training on Tropical Agro-silvopasture for Sustainable Nature-Based Product Development" held at the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, according to CMU Public Relation and Information Office. They are Abbie Glenn Estribillo of the CMU Department of Food Science and Jason Parlucha of the CMU Department of Wood Science and Technology. The training focused on enhancing the understanding and appreciation of agro-silvopasture technologies, emphasizing local farm models in Yogyakarta, particularly on cacao, goat and timber production. The Southeast Asian Regional Center sponsored the training for Graduate Study and Research… Read more

THIRTEEN higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines are leveling up their strategic communication efforts in a training program jointly implemented by the College of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). These were the Cavite State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Iloilo State College of Fisheries, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Mindanao State University, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Romblon State University, Sorsogon State University, Tarlac Agricultural University, University of Rizal System… Read more

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has thrown its support for the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act as it sought collaborators in the fight against illegal tobacco trade that brings P25 billion yearly in foregone revenue for government. According to DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano, the Senate Bill 2432 should be immediately approved to help eliminate illegal trade and smuggling of tobacco and other agricultural produce. Illegal tobacco trade even has serious impact against the health of minors, he said. "It may worsen the country's problem on smuggling. Illicit tobacco trade reduces the effectiveness of public health policies… Read more

The 2023 Young Agricultural Ambassadors composed of 12 Taiwanese with expertise in farming, forestry, fisheries, and animal husbandry visited the Philippines on November 13 to 18 as part of the New Southbound Policy Exchange Program. In an interview with The Manila Times, deputy director-general Hsiao Kuangwei of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Public Diplomacy Coordination Council, shared, "The participants hail from diverse backgrounds. Their areas of expertise include organic farming, aquaculture, fruit, vegetable and cultivation, as well as agricultural economics." "For them, it's really a thorough trip in just seven days. They visited government agencies to learn about the… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a training workshop on carbon farming that provided an in-depth discussion on the importance of the available platforms for monitoring, reporting and verification in carbon emissions. This is the second installment of the training workshop series on Carbon Wise Rice-based Farming held on November 21-22 at the SEARCA Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, in collaboration with Newfields Consulting Ltd. (NFC) and Macon Ltd. The training was attended by 28 participants from the provincial and municipal agricultural offices of Laguna, faculty and researchers from the University of… Read more