SEARCA in the News

THE Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources or the University Consortium (UC) granted the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) with regular membership. According to the CLSU Strategic Communication Office (StratCom), the university has applied for membership with UC and was approved during UC's 36th Executive Board meeting on October 30, 2023 at the National Taiwan University in Taipei. StratCom said CLSU President Edgar Orden attended said meeting and presented the accomplishments of CLSU as an affiliate member in support of its application to elevate its engagement with UC as a regular member. "We have… Read more

THE Central Luzon State University (CLSU), in partnership with the Philippine government-hosted, Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), marked a significant leap in its robotics capacity with a two-day training workshop on VEX Robotics. In collaboration with experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the workshop was conducted at the CLSU Precision and Digital Agriculture Center (PreDiCt) on October 24, 2023. It was organized by SEARCA featuring expert trainers from Hytec Power Inc. who unveiled their latest Vex Robotics bundles. SEARCA director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the participants engaged in… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) calls on photographers throughout Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, to participate in the 17th SEARCA Photo Contest, which closes on November 30. Themed "Regenerating Agri-Ecosystems, Lowering Global Boiling," the competition drew inspiration from the impactful words of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who declared last July the advent of "global boiling," emphasizing the urgency of the climate crisis. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said "global boiling" serves as a metaphorical depiction of the escalating climate crisis, which resonates with SEARCA's priority focus on climate change and… Read more

農業青年大使與菲國中呂宋州立大學教職員生交流。（農業部提供） 12位來自農畜各領域專才的青年農民與學子組成的第4屆農業青年大使，即將結束為期7天的菲律賓訪問行程。在這段期間，農青大使們除了拜會相關產業、菲國農業部、農業政策規劃單位及菲律賓國會外，更深入當地農村、國際及地方農業學研機構，與當地青農、農業相關科系學生及研究專家分享臺灣經驗，進行意見交流。菲方對我國農青大使們的專業及熱誠表示欽佩，期待雙方能早日展開全面與多元合作關係，促進農業領域的交流與發展。… Read more

CITY OF MALOLOS: A total of 250 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) seeking latest relevant updates in agriculture joined the AEW Summit 2023 at the Merryland Integrated Farm and Training Center in Barangay Taal, Pulilan on Thursday, November 16. The participants gathered to get updates on the current status and prospects in agriculture relevant to the provision of agricultural extension services. Anchored on the theme "Dynamic Resilient Farming: Agriculture in the Age of Climate Transformation," several topics, including the Implementation of the National Soil Health Program, Collaborative Action in Addressing Soil, Land Degradation, Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss were discussed by… Read more

Magtanim ay 'di biro, indeed. The Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, is asking today's generation to engage in agriculture. PhilRice is encouraging the Filipino youth along with volunteer organization Kiwanis International to look at the agriculture sector as an option for the future. They are also looking to establish and maintain a campsite at the FutureRice Farm in Nueva Ecija. They said that with the establishment of the camp, they can lure the youth to engage in farming as most farmers today are aging. According to Glenda Hufano, governor of the Kiwanis International-Philippine… Read more

The government and the private sector are intensifying efforts to revitalize agriculture through youth education to help prevent the imminent shortage of food due to the aging of farmers. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and two clubs of Kiwanis International will undertake a project that seeks to make agriculture more attractive to the youth. Citing information from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Glenda Hufano, governor of Kiwanis International-Philippine Luzon District, said that with the typical age of Filipino farmers falling between 55 and 59 years old, experts have projected that the Philippines… Read more

REAFFIRMING its commitment to furthering agricultural development in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) renewed its joint scholarship partnership with the National Taiwan University (NTU) International College for the Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science (Global ATGS) program. SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for Global ATGS aims to empower Southeast Asian scholars by pursuing graduate studies under the Master Program in Global ATGS. Gregorio said the program, which is conducted in English, has a comprehensive curriculum on smart farming technology, genome science research and breeding science… Read more

Dr Mirjam Roeder who is based at the University's Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) is collaborating with the UK company Straw Innovations Ltd, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Koolmill Systems Ltd to showcase their research. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) states that rice is the number one food crop globally and 91% of it is produced and consumed in Asia. As a crop it is responsible for 48% of global crop emissions and for every kilogram of rice, a kilo of straw is produced. Across Asia 300 million tonnes of… Read more

AIMING to attain food and nutrition security, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is holding the Second International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE2) from November 14-17, 2023 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. "SHGBEE2 will be a venue to discuss lessons, impact stories, strategies, issues, and challenges related to nurturing healthy, biodiverse and entrepreneurial communities," SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said. He said the event is expected to contribute to a better understanding of SHGBEE as an opportune entry point for schoolchildren, the youth and local communities "to be mindful… Read more