SEARCA chief named 2024 Outstanding Professional in Agriculture

Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), has been recognized as the 2024 Outstanding Professional of the Year in Agriculture by the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), a testament to his significant contributions to agricultural innovation.

Held on August 2, 2024 at Conrad Manila, the award ceremony honored 33 professionals across various fields, with Gregorio distinguished among eight awardees in the technology cluster. His expertise and leadership have made a profound impact on agriculture, not just in the Philippines but across Asia and Africa.

Beyond being the chief executive of SEARCA, Gregorio has held significant roles in the agricultural sector. Over his nearly three-decade career, he has made groundbreaking advances in rice breeding at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), developing over 20 rice varieties, many of which are salt-tolerant and have been adopted in multiple countries. He also served as global crop breeding manager at East-West Seed Company, where he led breeding programs in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

His contributions to the field of agriculture have earned him numerous accolades, including The Outstanding Young Men and Outstanding Young Scientist awards and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Medal Award. In 2018, he became an Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines. In 2021, he was appointed as a United Nations Food Systems Champion.

Currently, Gregorio serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Crop Science and Central Mindanao University. He is also the outgoing president of the Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO) after a four-year term.

The PRC’s 2024 Outstanding Professional Awards, organized in collaboration with the Foundation of the Outstanding Professionals Inc. (FOPI), celebrated professionals who demonstrate integrity, competence, and innovation in their fields. This year’s theme, “Bagong Pilipinas: Pagpupugay sa Makabago at Mapanlikhang Propesyonal ng Bayan,” emphasized the importance of professional excellence in nation-building.

“As agriculturists, we must be ready to commit ourselves to enhancing the agricultural value chain—for our farmers’ comfort and our consumers’ well-being,” Gregorio said.

Gregorio’s recognition is not just a personal achievement but also a reflection of SEARCA’s role in promoting agricultural innovation in Southeast Asia. His leadership continues to inspire innovation and excellence in the region’s agricultural sector.