SEARCA in the News

THE government should tap the “intellectual capital” of higher education institutions (HEI) to boost food security and hasten economic recovery by fostering a “knowledge economy” amid the Covid-19 crisis. Experts at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) made this recommendation as they noted that developed countries have put up incentives for a “knowledge economy” (KE). The incentives are meant to meet their people’s needs. Searca said KE accelerates economic growth objectives. The top 10 countries in 2008 that have high knowledge economic index (KEI) based on the criteria of the World Bank Institute… Read more

An Asean center on agricultural research kicked off recently the implementation of its 11th Five-Year Plan. The new strategic plan sets out the principles and objectives that will guide the center as it moves toward Accelerating Transformation Though Agricultural Innovation (Attain). “Our new development strategy was shaped by SEARCA’s desire to  contribute to the transformation of farmers who are stuck in the belief that farming is limited to production, into new farmers operating in a modern agriculture ecology, that is Agriculture 4.0,” said Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) came up with a paper discussing the critical role of higher education institutions to undertake research and development initiatives that contribute to food security during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Authors Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Searca director, and Dr. Rico C. Ancog, Operations Consultant for Emerging Innovation and Growth, also of Searca, said there is a needed transformative change in the agricultural food systems would stem right at the hallowed halls of the universities and colleges. Titled “Food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic: research and development priorities… Read more

Two experts in the field of agriculture point to the critical role of universities and colleges in undertaking research and development (R&D) initiatives that contribute to food security during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Glenn Gregorio and Dr. Rico Ancog authored a paper titled, “Food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic: research and development priorities for Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines and Southeast Asia,” published in the Central Mindanao University (CMU) Journal of Science. Gregorio is Director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Ancog is Operations Consultant for Emerging Innovation and Growth, also… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) kicks off the implementation of its 11th Five-Year Plan (11FYP) beginning this month. This sets out the principles and objectives that will guide SEARCA as it moves towards ATTAIN, which means “Accelerating Transformation Though Agricultural Innovation.” SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio said their new development strategy was shaped by its desire to contribute to the transformation of farmers who are stuck in the belief that farming is limited to production, into new farmers operating in a modern agriculture ecology, that is Agriculture 4.0. For their 11FYP… Read more

AN inter-government treaty organization focusing on agriculture research kicked off the implementation of its 11th five-year plan to push agricultural innovation in a new development strategy shaped after consulting its partners, alumni, staff and external stakeholders. According to Glenn Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), the new strategic plan sets out the principles and objectives that will guide the organization as it moves toward Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (Attain). “Our new development strategy was shaped by Searca’s desire to contribute to the transformation of farmers, who are stuck [with]… Read more

The Local government units (LGUs) are expected to lead the way in terms of implementing the government’s urban agriculture push, which aims to encourage households to grow their own food. “LGUs are in a strategic position to perform a catalytic role in promoting urban agriculture,” the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said in a policy paper on policy imperatives to promote urban agriculture among local government units in the Philippines. The policy paper is jointly authored by Rico C. Ancog and Glenn B. Gregorio of SEARCA and the University of the Philippines Los… Read more

The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) forged partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Southern Agro Export Corporation (SAGREX) to intensify the promotion of its Urban Agriculture Program.Agriculture Secretary William Dar, together with SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio and SAGREX Vice President for Sales and Marketing Anthony Gerald Maranon, led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. “We should bring in partners from the private sector in promoting and pursuing the Urban Agriculture Program so that we can make a difference in a big way… Read more

Local government units (LGUs) are in a strategic position to perform the role of catalyst in promoting urban agriculture. This was asserted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) in its policy paper on policy imperatives to promote urban agriculture among LGUs. The policy paper was co-authored by Rico Ancog of the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Searca Director Glenn Gregorio; Sta. Rosa City Rep. Arlene Arcillas; Erlinda Creencia of the Santa Rosa City government, Victorino Aquitania of the Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability-Southeast Asia; Department of Agriculture-Bureau of… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is pushing for clustering of small farms to help ASEAN farmers overcome low and inconsistent-quality yield, scattered production, high transaction costs, and poor access to markets. In a policy paper, SEARCA recommended agricultural clusters as a strategic approach “to operationalize the appropriate channels at a scale necessary for it to have enhanced competitive strength to connect with national and international markets.” Co-authors of the paper pointed out that an agricultural cluster is effective when there is a strong market connection and value-adding networks as a result of… Read more