CAMARINES SUR, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), in partnership with Kansas State University (KSU), will host the CBSUA-SEARCA Joint International Conference 2026 on 18–21 March 2026 in Camarines Sur, Philippines.
The conference will bring together global and regional experts through the 7th International Conference on Education, Environment, and Agriculture (ICEEA7) and the 4th International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE4) to advance sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agri-food systems across Southeast Asia.
Anchored on the theme "Policy Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Mainstreaming Biodiversity, Agri/Ecotourism, and Disaster Resilience," the conference will serve as a platform for policymakers, researchers, educators, and development practitioners to exchange knowledge and translate research insights into actionable policies and programs.
The event will open with immersive mobile ecosystem workshops across Camarines Sur, featuring site visits to the Cabusao Wetlands and Pawikan Nest and Fish Sanctuary, Mount Isarog National Park, San Isidro National High School, Naga View Adventist College, and the Panicuason Hot Spring. These activities will showcase biodiversity conservation efforts, innovative school garden models, and thriving ecotourism initiatives.
The conference proper will feature keynote addresses by Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis and Philippine Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dr. Arnel de Mesa, who will discuss national priorities on higher education reform, food security, agricultural modernization, and climate resilience.
Furthermore, the conference will focus on four thematic areas: school and home gardens as community and social enterprise hubs; biodiversity-enhanced food systems; regenerative agritourism and ecotourism; and climate- and disaster-resilient agricultural initiatives.
It will also feature plenary sessions and panel discussions with experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, SEARCA, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Universitas Asa Indonesia, Kansas State University, and National Chung Hsing University. Speakers will highlight policy perspectives, innovations, and best practices regarding biodiversity, food systems, nutrition, agri/ecotourism, and disaster resilience.
Parallel scientific sessions, poster presentations, and guided exhibit walks will showcase research innovations and field-based practices from across the region. Conference outputs will include policy recommendations, conference proceedings, and selected peer-reviewed publications in SEARCA's Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development and CBSUA's Multidisciplinary Research and Extension Journal.
Through this joint conference, SEARCA, CBSUA, and KSU reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and advancing science-based solutions that support biodiversity conservation, food security, and climate resilience across Southeast Asia.