Jul-oct 2019 NewsletterVOL 25 NO 1 1SSN 0117-6161

UC HOLDS 1ST FACULTY FORUM AT SEARCA LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Sixty-six in Food Security and Climate Change faculty members from eight member (MSFSCC) to a Doctor of Science in INSIDE THIS ISSUE: universities of the Southeast Asian Food Security and Climate Change University Consortium for Graduate (DSFSCC) program. There were at least 2019 Summer School and Training of Education in Agriculture and Natural three panelists who also suggested that Trainers comes to a close 2 Resources (UC) converged at the the UC should use its infl uence to be an SEARCA Headquarters for the First UC advocacy group for policies that would Faculty Forum on 23 – 24 July 2019. prioritize the agriculture sector or benefi t SEARCA-UC projects presented and the small holder farmers in the region. evaluated during Integrative Forum on The Forum, co-hosted by SEARCA and FANSSEA 4 the University of the Philippines Los The UC was established in 1989 to be Baños, provided a venue for faculty a leader in implementing collaborative SEARCA Co-organizes the 5th University members from the UC to come together, strategies for excellent graduate Consortium Graduate Forum at Institut exchange research ideas and develop education and cutting-edge research Pertanian , 6 strategic partnerships for collaborations. in agriculture, environment and With the theme on Responding to the natural resources for the benefi t of the MS FSCC Holds Final Project Meeting in Challenges of the Fourth Industrial Southeast Asian region. Its members Revolution, there were 4 plenary include Institut Pertanian Bogor and Bangkok, Thailand 8 speakers and 43 papers presented in Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, parallel sessions under 4 sub-themes. Universiti Putra Malaysia, University In addition, there were two roundtable of the Philippines Los Baños, and This is the offi cial newsletter of the Southeast Asian University sessions that discussed possible key Kasetsart University in Thailand. It also Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural areas of strategic collaboration among has Tokyo University of Agriculture and Resources (UC). It can be downloaded from the UC website at the UC members. Among those proposed National Taiwan University as associate https://uc.searca.org/ were cross visits, co-supervision of members while Universitas Brawijaya of thesis, co-authorship of papers, research Indonesia, University of British Columbia Send your article contributions to: collaboration on topics that transcend in Canada and Gottingen University The Editor, University Consortium boundaries such as on studies involving in Germany are affi liate members. SEARCA, College, Los Baños 4031 Laguna, Philippines; Telefax: (63-49) 536 7164; the Mekong River or the South China SEARCA serves as Secretariat of the UC. Email: [email protected] Sea, and the extension of the current UC project on the Joint Master of Science 2019 Summer School and Training of Trainers comes to a close

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – SEARCA, Gadjah Mada (UGM) and SEARCA. in collaboration with the University of SEARCA hosted the fi rst leg of the the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Summer School where short lectures, has successfully concluded the group discussions and interactive 2019 UC-MSFSCC Summer School exercises were conducted as and Training of Trainers (ToT). preparation for the students’ fi eld work. The students looked at the impacts and Forty-four (44) students from 15 challenges of the changing climate and universities under the Southeast Asian globalization to food security and the University Consortium for Graduate sustainability of small farms in Southeast Education in Agriculture and Natural Asia. They considered the ecological Resources (UC) and from partner and socio-economic dimensions of universities under the Master of typical agro-food systems in the region Science in Food Security and Climate and the possible indicators to assess the Change (MSFSCC) project successfully sustainability state of these dimensions. completed the Summer School. This The students were divided into eight (8) year’s off ering with theme “Sustainable groups and were deployed to diff erent and Resilient Food Systems in fi eld sites in Camarines Sur, one of the Vulnerable Areas” was held in the most vulnerable areas to climate change Philippines last 15 – 31 July 2019 and but also one with a robust and pro-active was jointly organized by UPLB, the disaster risk reduction management University of Natural Resources and Life (DRRM) programs in the Philippines. Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Universitas

2 / UC NEWSLETTER UC News Students were briefed by local offi cials on on how they may have touched each Malaysia (UPM) as regular members the risk profi le and the status of the DRRM others’ lives during the course of the with Tokyo University of Agriculture programs in Camarines Sur, with special fi eld work. She then exhorted the (NODAI), National Taiwan University focus on the rice and cacao farming students who would be going back to (NTU), Universitas Brawijaya (UB), systems. The students also conducted their diff erent home countries to go University of British Columbia (UBC), and surveys and multi-sectoral focus group and continue touching people’s lives. Gottingen University (UG) as associate discussions with farmer leaders, input The Summer School is an annual event and affi liate members. SEARCA serves providers, traders, processors, barangay of the UC that started in 2015 and is as Secretariat of the Consortium. nutritionists, and market retailers. hosted by the UC members on rotation They also did a 2-night homestay with basis. It has now evolved to become a The MSFSCC project is partly funded by farmer families that served as subjects 2-unit credit core course in the MSFSCC ERASMUS+ under its Capacity Building of their case studies. Data gathered program. On the other hand, the ToT, for Higher Education component. The was then processed and analyzed and which was held simultaneously with project is led by KU with the other regular results of the studies were presented the Summer School, discussed how members of the UC, Central Luzon State in a public conference held on 28 July to plan and implement this MSFSCC University (CLSU), Prince of Songkla 2019 with local offi cials, farmer families core course, including technical and University (PSU), and other stakeholders in attendance. administrative challenges for such a (CMU), Nilai University, Royal University transdisciplinary action-learning fi eld of Agriculture (RUA) and University of During the closing program held at the course. It considered both the content and Battambang (UBB) as university partners SEARCA headquarters, Dr. Poonpipope pedagogy related to the course, as well in the region, and with BOKU, MSA and Kasemsap of Kasetsart University as issues on budgeting, programming, UG as university partners in Europe. (KU) of Thailand and MSFSCC Project student assessment and reporting. The SEARCA, Agrinatura and Agreenium Leader, expressed confi dence that ToT was led by experts from Montpellier are network partners of the project. all the Summer School participants SupAgro (MSA) and KU. Twenty-fi ve would become successful individuals (25) faculty members and staff from UC in the future. However, he asked them and MSFSCC partners, including 19 from to work to uplift the plight of farmers. overseas institutions, served as Summer For her part, Dr. Maria Cristeta School organizers and ToT participants. Cuaresma, SEARCA Program Head for Another set of 23 faculty members from Graduate Education and Institutional UPLB and a staff from FAO served as Development, mentioned that she resource persons and group facilitators. was touched when she saw how the students warmly welcomed and hugged The UC was founded in 1989 and consists the farmer families who came for the of UPLB, UGM, KU, Institut Pertanian public conference, and commented Bogor (IPB), and Universiti Putra

UC NEWSLETTER / 3 by: Bernice Anne C. Darvin and Donna Bae N. Malayang SEARCA-UC projects presented and evaluated during Integrative Forum on FANSSEA BOGOR, Indonesia – The Southeast Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, Program Head Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study of the Research and Development and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Department (RDD) of SEARCA, in partnership with the Southeast Asian warmly welcomed the participants University Consortium for Graduate and guests and thanked the host Education in Agriculture and Natural university, IPB, for extending assistance Resources (University Consortium or for FANSSEA’s culminating activity. UC) and the Food Security Center of the University of Hohenheim in Germany, and IPB, who graciously hosted the event, in collaboration with Institut Pertanian was represented by Prof. Dr. Ir. Dodik Bogor (IPB), held the Integrative Forum on Ridho Nurrochmat, Vice Rector for Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Collaboration and Information System. Asia on 30 September 2019 at IPB – In his message, he acknowledged Baranangsiang Campus, Bogor, Indonesia. the importance of food and food security especially to the social and As its Umbrella Program on Food and economic aspects of the community. Dr. Paul S. Teng, Managing Director Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia and Dean of NIE International and (FANSSEA) 2014-2019 nears it closing, SEARCA Senior Fellow SEARCA realized that it is high time for the Center to evaluate if FANSSEA Asia which included the current status of has indeed achieved its goal of aligning food and nutrition in ASEAN, agriculture its and the University Consortium’s situation and food security initiatives in programs of work on food and nutrition ASEAN, and how to prepare for the future. security with the development needs of the region. The Integrative Forum The six research projects under the aimed to assess the impacts of FANSSEA Umbrella Program were each implementation of the six SEARCA-UC presented by representatives from the Research Projects and explore further UC members who led them. They were research collaborations within the region. as follows: (1) Dr. Rimbawan of IPB for Indigenous Crops; (2) Dr. Warapa Mahakarnchanakul of Kasetsart University for Post Harvest System Improvement; Prof. Dr. Ir. Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat, (3) Dr. Aida Azrina Azmi of Universiti Vice Rector for Collaboration and Putra Malaysia for Safeguarding and Information System of IPB Sustaining the Integrity of Halal; (4) Ms. Anna Floresca F. Firmalino of University of Dr. Paul S. Teng, Managing Director and the Philippines Los Baños for Enhancing Dean of NIE International and SEARCA Human Resource Development in Senior Fellow, served as the Technical Agriculture; (5) Dr. Masyhuri of Universitas Coordinator of the event. He explained Gadjah Mada (UGM) for Implications the rationale and provided an overview of AEC and Trade and Investments; of the forum. In his presentation, and (6) Ms. Bernice Anne C. Darvin of he explained how FANSSEA was SEARCA for Food Reserve Management formulated to complement the and Policies in Southeast Asia. components of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework (AIFS) A breakout session was likewise conducted during the forum to discuss how to develop Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Program Head of the Research Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA- an enhanced framework for collaboration and Development Department FS) 2015-2020. He then presented on food and nutrition security in Southeast (RDD) of SEARCA a three-part Regional Perspective on Asia and what are the new and urgent Food and Nutrition Security in Southeast research topics that SEARCA and the 4 / UC NEWSLETTER members of the UC can work on. The fi rst group identifi ed four major areas of research to wit: food production; food handling, processing, storage, and transport; food trade and marketing; and consumption behavior. The second group, on the other hand, suggested a wider range of topics: food safety risk assessment; standardization of food systems; aquaculture and fi sheries; plant-based protein; edible insects; industrial revolution 4.0; agriculture investment standards; technology commercialization; and capacity building on intellectual property.

To close, Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head of the Graduate Education and Institutional Development Department (GEIDD) of SEARCA said that all the output will be integrated and will be disseminated to the partner universities, including identifi ed research gaps, action plans and priority study areas for collaborative research projects and/or scaling up activities. The outputs will also serve as basis for the preparation of SEARCA’s research agenda for its 11th Five-Year Plan.

Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head of the Graduate Education and Institutional Development Department (GEIDD) of SEARCA

UC NEWSLETTER / 5 by: Paula Grace M. Muyco SEARCA Co-organizes the 5th University Consortium Graduate Forum at Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia

BOGOR, Indonesia – The Southeast the parallel sessions attended by Chaiseri, Vice President for Research Asian University Consortium for students from Universitas Gadjah Mada, and former Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Education in Agriculture and Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kasetsart Agro-Industry from Kasetsart University Natural Resources (UC) together with University, University of the Philippines (KU) discussing Agroindustry 4.0 the Southeast Asian Regional Center Los Baños, Tokyo University of for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Following the parallel sessions, Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Institut Brawijaya University, and IPB University. the students also held a meeting Pertanian Bogor (IPB) organized the This event was also NTU’s fi rst to establish the Asian Student 5th University Consortium Graduate attendance in the UC Graduate Forum. Graduate Forum Association to Forum (UCGF) on 1-2 October 2019. strengthen the network of graduate Keynote speakers also imparted their students initiated during the UCGF. Since 2015, the UC annually conducts expertise on the subthemes with Dr. a graduate forum to provide graduate Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo, Secretary Other universities who have hosted students from UC member institutions of the Graduate School, University the UCGF since 2015 are Universiti an opportunity to share their knowledge, of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Selangor, expertise, research, and experiences. discussing Production Systems, Prof. Malaysia, Kasetsart University (KU) This year’s 5th UCGF followed the theme Yandra Arkeman from Institut Pertanian in Thailand and Universitas Brawijaya “Sustainable and Smart Agriculture Bogor (IPB) University talking about (UB) in Malang, Indonesia. For more in the Tropical Region: Concept and Logistic and Supply Chain, Prof. Dr. information about UC organized Implementation”. It was also co-supported Datuk M Nasir Shamsudin from the events, scholarships, programs, and by the Food Security Center (FSC) of the Department of Agribusiness and projects, visit https://uc.searca.org University of Hohenheim in Germany. Bioresource Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia A total of 47 research studies were (UPM) sharing on Sustainable presented under four subthemes during Agribusiness, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siree

6 / UC NEWSLETTER in photos the 5th ucgf at institut pertanian bogor

Attendees of the 5th UC Graduate Forum from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kasetsart University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Tokyo University of Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Brawijaya University, and the host IPB university. Photo: IPB; Gerald Salas

UC NEWSLETTER / 7 The fi nal project meeting was attended by: Dr. Francis Sigit Setyabundi, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM); Dr. I Putu S., Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB); Asst. Prof. Dr. Pornsiri Suebpongsang, Chiang Mai University; Asst. Prof. Dr. Chutima Tantikitti, Prince of Songkla University; Prof. Dr. Robiah Yunus, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Dr. Elaida C. Fiegalan, Central Luzon State University (CLSU); Mr. Sovannara Moun, University of Battambang (UB); Dr. Mark Dondi Arboleda and Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB); Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, Kasetsart University President; Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, Program Head of GEIDD in SEARCA; Dr. Nguon Samnang, Royal University of Agriculture (RUA); Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM); Dr. Nahrowi, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB); Mr. Saiful Maskan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Dr. Poonpipope Kasemsap, Kasetsart University (KU); and Dr. Didier Pillot (Montpellier SupAgro).

by: Paula Grace M. Muyco MS FSCC Holds Final Project Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand BANGKOK, Thailand – The Master of Science in Food Security and Climate Change (MS FSCC) conducted its fi nal project meeting on 3 - 4 October 2019 at Kasetsart University (KU) in Bangkok, Thailand. The MS FSCC is a joint degree project off ered by fi ve members of the University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC): Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) MS FSCC curriculum in their institution. Project members from UGM, UPM, Chiang Mai University, in the Philippines, Universiti Putra In the afternoon, the project members and IPB discussing the MS FSCC outcomes. Malaysia (UPM) in Malaysia, Institut participated in a webinar hosted by the Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and Universitas Education, Audiovisual and Culture Gadjah Mada (UGM), in Indonesia. Executive Agency (EACEA) regarding the preparation of the fi nal report. The fi nal meeting discussed the project accomplishments vis-a-vis the On the fi nal day of the project planned targets and the diffi culties meeting, Dr. Didier Pillot of Montpellier and challenges met in the project SupAgro, discussed the next steps implementation which are to be included and prospective cooperation and new in the project report. Dr. Poonpipope projects arising from the MS FSCC. MS FSCC project members together with the Kasetsart Kasemsap, Project Coordinator and The MS FSCC project is partially-funded by University President, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat. Leader of the MS FSCC, presided during the European Commission’s ERASMUS+ the meeting and provided an overview of Capacity Building for Higher Education. the project, outcomes, and outputs. Dr. Mark Dondi Arboleda, UPLB Graduate The ERASMUS project is being led School Secretary, presented a draft of by Kasetsart University (KU) and is the students’ handbook with comments participated by 11 other partners from coming from the project team members. Southeast Asia and 5 partners from Prof. Dr. Robiah Yunus, Dean, School Europe. For more information about the of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra MS FSCC project, visit: https://msfscc.org Malaysia, presented the established

8 / UC NEWSLETTER UC CONSORTIUM CONTACT

INSTITUT PERTANIAN BOGOR UNIVERSITAS BRAWIJAYA Dr. Nahrowi Dr. Panji Deoranto Secretary for Master Programs Head of Agency for Research, Graduate School Community Service and Cooperation, Institut Pertanian Bogor Faculty of Agricultural Technology Gedung Rektorat, Lt. 2 Universitas Brawijaya Kampus IPB Darmaga Jl. Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia Bogor, Indonesia Tel: +62-341-564398 Tel: +62-251 622-638 Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITAS GADJAH MADA Ms. Naho Goto Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo Assistant Chief Offi cer of Center for Director, Center for Academic Innovation International Programs and Studies Tokyo University of Agriculture Universitas Gadjah Mada 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku Jl. Flora, Bulaksumur 55281 Tokyo 156-8502, Japan Yogyakarta, Indonesia Tel.: +8-13 5477-2560 Tel: +62-274-649-2599 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA Mr. Jack Chih-Hsiung Hsu Dr. Robiah Yunus Coordinator, Center for International Agricultural Dean, School of Graduate Studies Education and Academic Exchanges Universiti Putra Malaysia College of Bioresources and Agriculture, Tel.: 603-8946 4202 National Taiwan University Fax: 603-8946 4232 1 Sec 4 Roosevelt Rd, Taipei City, Taiwan Email: [email protected]/ Tel: +886-2-3366-4215 [email protected] Fax: +886-2-3366-4213 Email: [email protected] UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (UBC) Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. Dr. Rickey Yada Dean, Graduate School Dean of Faculty of Land and Food Systems University of the Philippines Los Baños University of British Columbia 4031 College, Laguna, Philippines 270-2357 Main Mall Tel: +63-49 536-3414; 536-2310 Vancouver, B. C. V6T 1Z2, Canada Email: [email protected] Tel.: (1-604) 822-6139 Fax: (1-604) 822-4400 KASETSART UNIVERSITY Email: [email protected] Dr. Buncha Chinnasri Acting Assistant to the President GEORG-AUGUST UNIVERSITY OF GOETTINGEN (UG) Kasetsart University Dr. Uwe Muuss 50 Phaholyothin Road Director Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand International Offi ce Tel: +66-2 579-1027 Georg-August-University Goettingen E-mail: [email protected] Von-Siebold-Strasse 4 37075 Goettingen, Germany Tel.: +49 - 551 39 13585 Fax: +49 - 551 39 14254 Email: [email protected] uc secretariat Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) College, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines Email: [email protected] Contact No.(+63-2) 8657-1300 to 1302 (Manila) (+63-49) 536-2290 local 2200 to 2203 (Laguna) Fax: (63-49) 536-7164 Website: http://uc.searca.org/ UC NEWSLETTER / 9 about the UC

Launched in 1989, the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) is a commitment made among leading Southeast Asian higher education THE UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM AIMS TO: institutions to share academic expertise and resources. - Provide highly trained personnel in agriculture, environment, and natural resources for the Its founding members are Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and Universitas development of the Southeast Asian region; Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Malaysia, Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand, and University of the - Promote mutually benefi cial cooperation among Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in the Philippines and SEARCA. UC members by optimizing the utilization of scarce resources and expertise; and Today, the UC is an eff ective network linking strong universities in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and Germany. It now includes - Develop strong and dynamic linkages among UC Universitas Brawijaya (UB), National Taiwan University (NTU), Tokyo members through collaborative research projects as University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI), University of British Columbia well as faculty and student exchange programs. (UBC), and the Georg-August University of Göttingen (UG). grants STUDENT GRANTS faculty GRANTS

Visiting Lecturer Program for Teaching Thesis Grant Support for Thesis Production Purposes Assists the UC graduate student to develop and fi nish his/her Enables the UC graduate faculty to teach a thesis. graduate course in his/her fi eld of discipline at another participating UC member. Thesis Grant Support for Research Activities/ Publication Fees Seed Fund for Collaborative Research Grants Provides funds to assist the UC graduate student in various Provides seed funding for research studies in line research activities or to publish his/her study in a reputable with the UC’s strategic priorities and in collaboration journal. with at least two UC members.

Student Travel Grant for Credit Program Provides opportunity to the UC graduate student to spend a semester in another participating UC university to take courses for credit to his/her program. student & faculty GRANTS Student Travel Grant for Participation in Seminars/Workshop Faculty/Student Travel Grant for Research Provides opportunity to the UC graduate student to participate Enables the UC graduate faculty / graduate student in a training/workshop/short course organized by another UC to travel in another participating UC university to member. conduct research.

Matching Grant for Mobility Faculty/Student Travel Grant for Provides a matching grant for students to conduct mobility Conference/Seminar activities in a host institution. Counterpart funding may be Permits the UC graduate faculty / graduate student provided by the home/host institution or from other sources. to participate and present a paper in a conference/ seminar organized by another participating UC member.

10 / UC NEWSLETTER collaborative research

umbrella program on food and nutrition security for southeast asia

Serves as a platform for collaborative research on food security among the UC members and partner institutions from the other Southeast Asian Ministries of Education Organization (SEAMEO) member countries. activities

summer school uc-tokyo nodai Post-graduate course which enhances the dissertation scholarship understanding of post graduate students and other professionals in rural studies, agriculture and Contributes to the enhancement of agricultural research natural resource management and development in the Southeast Asian region through the provision of the scholarship for eligible candidates to earn a doctorate dissertation degree. graduate forum An annual post-graduate forum which aims to provide an opportunity for graduate students from joint master’s degree - UC members to share new knowledge, research ideas, and experiences in an open platform food security and climate change

Develops a critical mass of high quality, next generation of interdisciplinary professionals able to address the faculty forum imposing challenges posed by climate change and food An annual event that aims to provide an opportunity security in the country and the region for faculty members from the UC to develop camaraderie, encourage transdisciplinary studies, and promote greater integration of research through strategic partnerships for collaboration. This activity is also a way to further strengthen the relationship between and among the UC members which would hopefully lead to collaborative research proposals UC NEWSLETTER / 11