SEARCA News

LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a training program on data analytics for faculty and staff of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) on 4–8 December 2023 at the SEARCA headquarters. Titled "Crash Course on Data Analytics for the Future for Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines (DAF-X4HEIs)," this beginner-level program was attended by 38 participants from 17 members of the State Universities and Colleges-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines, Inc. (SUC-ACAP). The training focused on data visualization techniques and freely available data analytics software. "We offer this platform… Read more

In a bid to revolutionize farming practices, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined forces with AppGeese Inc., a sociotechnoprise pioneering a digital agriculture platform in Laguna province in 2020. Three years into the initiative, SEARCA's Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD) has recently conducted a monitoring visit to Liliw, Laguna, assessing the impact of the project on local farmers and agricultural groups. LUFAMCO, or the Liliw Upland Farmers Marketing Cooperative, became an integral part of the project under the guidance of Ms. Eunice H. Decena, municipal agriculture officer. Prior to their involvement… Read more

Muntinlupa City shows a way to turn farm waste into clean cooking fuel. Key to this innovation is a simple set-up called an anaerobic digester, which converts organic matter into biogas. With this technology, along with composting machines, the city takes the path to zero-waste agriculture and circular economy. Inspired by the potential of waste-to-energy benefits, a team from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) investigated the biogas digester technology at the Environmental Sanitation Center (ESC) in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. As an implementer of the Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project, the SEARCA… Read more

CATANAUAN, Quezon - The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized a two-day training-workshop focusing on good agricultural practices (GAP) and a refresher course on coconut processing for farmers in Quezon Province. This initiative is under the project, "Development of the Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon", held on 5–6 December 2023 in Catanauan, Quezon. The event was co-organized with the Provincial Government of Quezon through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region IV, with support from the Municipal Government of Catanauan through the… Read more

Fourteen Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program students at the Reedley International School, with their teachers and guardians, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 7 December 2023. The field trip aimed at exploring 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. During the visit, the students participated in a robotics learning session at the SHARING Café and toured the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for… Read more

Ms. Diah Yusuf, chief executive officer and strategic expert of Indonesia Prima, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 4 December 2023. She was received by the heads and staff of the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD) and Partnerships Unit. The meeting focused on potential joint initiatives on empowering women in agribusiness and advancing digital agriculture. Indonesia Prima is a business support and strategic partner for accelerating farmers' entrepreneurial mindsets, particularly women farmers. During the meeting, Ms. Yusuf was given an overview of SEARCA's mandate and offerings. In turn, she shared… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the College of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB-CDC) jointly implemented a training program on strategic communication for higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines held on 20-24 November 2023 at the SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Titled Strategic Communication Planning Workshop: Enhancing Communication Skills for Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines (StratCom4HEIs), the learning event was attended by 19 delegates from 13 members of the State Universities and Colleges - Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines, Inc… Read more

We heard you! The SEARCA Photo Contest is accepting submissions until 30 December 2023! For its 17th year, the annual photo contest launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) zooms in on Regenerating agri-ecosystems, lowering "global boiling". The competition is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The theme aims to highlight technologies and practices in agriculture that help mitigate worsening effects of climate change so much so that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres alerted the public on 21 July… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sutkhet Nakasathien, vice president for research and creation at Kasetsart University, has been elected as the Chair of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Governing Board. Dr. Sutkhet will serve in this position from 2023 to 2025. As chair of the SEARCA Governing Board, Dr. Sutkhet will lead the highest policymaking body of SEARCA. The Governing Board is composed of representatives from each member country of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) who were nominated by their respective Ministers/Secretaries of Education and appointed by the SEAMEO Council… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with Newfields Consulting Ltd. (NFC) and Macon Ltd., conducted the second installment of the training-workshop series on Carbon Wise Rice-based Farming on 21–22 November 2023 at SEARCA Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. The second workshop was attended by 28 participants from the Provincial and Municipal Agricultural Offices of Laguna, faculty and researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Central Luzon State University, and the private sector. The training-workshop provided an in-depth discussion on the importance of the available platforms for… Read more