SEARCA News

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) welcomed 62 participants, including lecturers and the organizing team, from seven countries to the International Ecology School (IES) 2026 held on 15–21 July 2026 in Laguna, Philippines. The participants included 23 graduate and undergraduate students. With the theme "Resilient Ecologies, Shared Futures: Innovation for Climate and Biodiversity," the week-long program brought together participants from Mongolia, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Through lectures, research presentations, and field-based training, they deepened their understanding of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and… Read more

Social enterprises play an important role in strengthening resilient and inclusive agrifood systems by addressing market inefficiencies while creating lasting social and economic impact, a social entrepreneurship expert said during the 56th installment of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Online Learning and Virtual Engagement (SOLVE) webinar series held on 22 July 2026. Speaking to more than 200 participants on Zoom and Facebook Live, Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Senior Lecturer and Online MBA Program Manager at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, underscored how social enterprise business models can respond to persistent… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—A delegation of 19 development communication (DevCom) student interns from Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU), Mindanao State University (MSU), and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), accompanied by their faculty facilitators, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 15 July 2026 to learn how communication supports agricultural innovation, knowledge management, and sustainable rural development. Organized in coordination with their host institution, the UPLB College of Development Communication (CDC), the visit introduced the student interns to SEARCA's regional initiatives at the intersection of communication, agricultural technology, and sustainable rural… Read more

CHON BURI, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (SEAMEO RECSAM) have formalized a three-year partnership to strengthen collaboration in education, research, knowledge exchange, and capacity building across Southeast Asia. To strengthen collaboration within the SEAMEO network, SEARCA and RECSAM signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 15 July 2026 at the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) held in Chon Buri, Thailand. The MOU was signed by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, and Dr. Azman bin Jusoh… Read more

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), which serves as the secretariat of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) will support the convening of the 8th UC Faculty Forum (UCFF) on 27–28 July 2026. Maejo University (MJU) will host the regional forum in Chiang Mai, Thailand. With the theme "IWA: Intelligent Well-being Agriculture toward Sustainable Development," the 2026 UCFF highlights the growing need to transform conventional agricultural systems into integrated models that harness technological innovation while promoting environmental sustainability, human well-being, and inclusive community… Read more

The June 2026 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) highlights how stronger agri-food systems require more than higher production. Studies published in AJAD Volume 23 Number 1 examine how policy tools, value-chain coordination, digital infrastructure, advisory services, and risk-aware farm technologies can help improve agricultural outcomes across Asia. The first paper in the issue, "Evaluating Policies for the Philippine Rice Market," introduces the Rapid Evaluation of Market Equilibrium with Differentiated Origin Sectors (REMEDIOS), a spreadsheet-based model that can quickly assess policies and help adjust them based on prevailing market conditions. Applying the model to the Philippine… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is gearing up for the fifth installment of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 29 July 2026. The sessions will feature Her Excellency Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines, who will discuss opportunities to expand agricultural markets, strengthen trade access in Southeast Asia, and advance the growing economic and agricultural partnership between Ukraine and the Philippines. This upcoming event marks a milestone for the series, following four successful installments that featured agricultural and bilateral perspectives from diplomatic representatives of Thailand, Spain, Vietnam… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) continued cultivating climate awareness and an appreciation for agriculture among young learners through its Youth in Agri Talk Show. The show aired its fourth episode, titled "Climate Detectives: The Case of the Changing Climate," on 15 May 2026 at 7:00 p.m. (GMT +8:00) on SEARCA's Facebook page. The episode garnered 55,000 organic views, with the largest audiences coming from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. It turned complex climate science into an engaging and playful investigation. The show featured Mr. Ochie San Juan, Chief Farmer and Co-Founder of… Read more