Director, 

Southeast Asian Regional Center (SEARCA)

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio is a professor at the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science UPLB and currently the Center Director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA). He was recently appointed as Chairman Technical Panel for Agriculture by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and steering committee member of the Department of Agriculture Biotechnology program.

His career was developed at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as Plant Breeder and Sr. Scientist of IRRI’s Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology Division. He worked on rice breeding and genetics for tolerance to abiotic stresses and research management. He has had a 3-year experience as crop breeding manager in a private Seed Company. He is an agri-entreprenuer and is a co-founder of Binhi Inc, an agri-research start-up company on micropropagation and seed business.

He has published more than 120 scientific journals, book chapters, policy papers and manuals. His numerous awards include the following: Ten Outstanding Youth Scientists of the Philippines (TOYS) during his high school time; Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) in the field of Genetics; Honorary Foreign Scientist of the Rural Development Administration of Korea; The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Philippines; Ho Chi Minh Medal award for “Having Great Contribution to the cause of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam”; Crop Science Achievement Awards in Crop Research, R&D Management, and honorary fellow in various years.

Dr. Gregorio was also conferred the rank of Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)-Philippines. He is recently recognized as 2020 UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science Distinguished Alumnus for Rice Genetics and Breeding. He is one of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit champions.