KC3 News

The SFRT, aSEARCAprogram, which provides limited start-up funds to selected research and training project proposals focused on the various facets of inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD), had a number of its grantees from 2013 to 2016 present their research results. These included climate change impacts on and adaptation in rice production, fisheries and aquaculture, and livelihoods; modeling/simulation to assess climate and land…

ASFCC is a program funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to support the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) in addressing three interrelated issues confronting the region – food insecurity, poverty, and climate change. SEARCA implements the AWG-SF Strategic Response Fund (ASRF), a flexible funding mechanism that aims to enable AWG-SF Leaders and Focal Points to quickly respond to emerging…

The Resilience Conference is a triennial conference held since 2008. The main focus of this year’s conference was on biosphere-based sustainability challenges and opportunities, which are influenced by the speed, scale, and connectivity of the Anthropocene (http://resilience2017.org). The conference, organized by the Stockholm Resilience Center, explored the following major themes: (1) social-ecological transformations for sustainability, (2) connectivity andcross -scale dynamics in the Anthropocene, (3) multi-level…

Participants of the workshop came from different divisions of DoF. The workshop was led by the Village Forest andNon TimberProduct Management Division (VFNTPMD)-DoF, headed by its Director, Dr. Oupakone Alounsavath, who is also the AWG-SF Leader of Lao PDR. Mr. Khamla Sinthavong of VFNTPMD-DoF facilitated the workshop. The proposed project was developed as a result of the validation of gap analysis at the level of…

The Project Development Toolkit will be pilot tested in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 26-28 September 2017. The workshop will be facilitated by the Village Forestry Division, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry under the leadership of Dr. Oupakone Alounsavath, AWG-SF Leader of Lao PDR, in collaboration with SEARCA. Institutions and organizations involved in social forestry in Lao PDR will participate in the workshop…

Mr. Orlando Panganiban, AWG-SF Leader Philippines, highlighted the importance of documenting and understanding different benefit-sharing mechanisms among CBFM-POs in the Philippines. Further, the need to identify policy and research gaps on access and benefit-sharing mechanisms was noted considering that many CBFM-POs are still experiencing poverty. The proposed project aims to promote cross-learning among CBFM-POs and other CBFM practitioners and develop policy brief/technical bulletin consisting of…

This concern is highlighted by the absence of a clear and adequate articulation of agrobiodiversity in existing regional and national policy frameworks and programs that deal with agriculture or biodiversity despite its essential links to food systems and nutrition and its importance in enhancing local livelihoods. However, there are initiatives on the ground from which significant lessons can be learned, such as those on traditional…

The participants learned how to utilize the empirical approach for estimating crop production. The effects of soil, weather, and management on crop production were studied using the dynamical approach. The course also covered the procedures for preparing the required data and running the crop models. In addition, the participants worked on exercises using the crop models. The empirical model was developed using…

The meeting was attended by representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and international organizations, which include the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), SEARCA, SEAMEO Regional Center for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), World Agroforestry Centre, ASEAN Working Group for Agricultural Training and Education (AWGATE), Higher Education for Sustainable Agriculture (HESA), and Food Systems in Southeast Asia Project. During the meeting, Dr. Ir. Siti Amana, Senior…

Los Baños. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)-ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) Strategic Response Fund [ASRF] program management unit invites ASEAN Member States (AMS) to submit proposals on Social Forestry. ASRF under the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) Phase 3 is designed to provide AWG-SF Leaders and Focal Points with seed fund…

SEARCA will conduct a Short Course on Cropping Systems Models and its Application for Climate Impact Assessment from 4-8 September 2017 at the SEARCA Headquarters. The course is partially-funded by the Food Security Center (FSC) based at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany.  Dr. Perdinan, a faculty member of the Department of Geophysics and Meteorology at Bogor Agricultural University, and a Climate Risk Specialist…

In his message, Dr. Saguiguit credited the UC for the expansion of SEARCA's scholarship programs to cover joint or dual degree scholarships, as well as, for the sandwich or exchange programs. He also noted that the Graduate Forum serves to strengthen institutional ties among the UC members. Meanwhile, the RIHED Director also commended the UC for conducting such a forum for graduate students in agriculture…

Hosted by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS), CIFAL Philippines is part of an international network of training centers coordinated by the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR). Dr. Lope B. Santos III (right), SEARCA Unit Head for Project Development and Technical Services, with Senator Gatchalian and Dr. Burgos, during the web series taping at the…

The students were accompanied by TUA Assistant Professors Nina Nocon-Shimoguchi (standing, 9th from right) and Shinichi Hangui (standing, 9th from left). Associate Professor Loida E. Mojica (standing, 7th from left) of the College of Economics and Management (CEM) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) served as the coordinator of the visit. The delegation was the 28th batch of TUA bio-business students to…

An annual event of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), this year's Graduate Forum expects to bring 34 students from the different UC members to present the results of their research activities. With the theme "Combating Food & Energy Insecurity and Climate Change through Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Innovations," the students will present their papers under three…

R&D Awards In his message, Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, stressed that increased investment in agricultural R&D is vital to the country's growth and overall development, and reiterated SEARCA's support for capacity building and developing a new breed of researchers and professionals to take up the challenge of nation building. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) won the PARRFI R&D Award (Research Category)…

Participants of the workshop came from institutions and organizations involved in social forestry in Myanmar such as FRI, Center for People and Forest (RECOFTC), Myanmar Environmental Rehabilitation-Conservation (MERN), Forest Department, Extension Division, and leaders of community forestry. Dr. Ei Ei Hlaing of FRI facilitated the workshop. The proposed project was crafted as a result of the validation of gap analysis at the level of the…

In the past, SEARCA has had sporadic collaborations with DOST, including those with its precursor, the National Science and Development Board (NSDB). NSDB funded a nationwide program called the Social Laboratory, a strategy for rural and agricultural development carried out in partnership with higher education institutions (HEIs) to uplift the socioeconomic conditions of rural farming communities. Dr. Saguiguit said "in view of the changing landscape…

The Summer School provided a fun learning experience for the students through the series of interactive lectures, discussions, group work, and field visits centering on transitions of Agro-Forestry Farming Systems. A conference was held on 21 July as a culminating activity to showcase the results of the students' field study in the villages of Penanggunan and Laksana in Banjarnegara District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The…

SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. presented the concept of the interactive museum at the 49th SEAMEO Council Conference (SEAMEC) held on 24-26 July 2017 in Jakarta. The SEAMEO Council accepted to assist in SEARCA's efforts to invite contributions from partners, including governments and the public and private sector, particularly food and agri-related companies that could contribute to it as part of their corporate…