SEARCA News

The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved the Five-Year Roadmap for Agriculture Higher Education in the Philippines, a strategic framework developed by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in partnership with the Visayas State University (VSU). The roadmap seeks to modernize curricula, strengthen institutional governance, and align academic programs with national and global development priorities. As the culmination of a multi-year project commissioned by CHED, its approval during the CHED Committee En Banc (CEB) meeting on 2 February 2026 marks the delivery of a significant milestone for the future of the… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) under the Philippine Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) has produced measurable improvements in rice farm productivity and profitability, according to the results of a nationwide endline evaluation. During the "Keeping on Track: ATI's FY 2025 Annual Performance Review and FY 2026 Commitment Signing" on 27 January 2026 at The Hive Hotel and Convention Place, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) presented the findings of the project "Reaping the Benefits: Evaluation of RCEF-RESP 2019-2024." Led by Project Team Leader Dr… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), organized the Inception Workshop of the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook) on 26-27 January 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. Led by SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), the workshop generally aimed to provide a venue for SEARCA and country experts from the 11 Southeast Asian countries to discuss and agree on the country studies' overall focus, methods of analysis, data sources, and report contents. Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of the SEA Agri Outlook… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will convene country experts from the 11 Southeast Asian countries on 26-27 January 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand for a workshop to kick off the Center's new flagship publication titled "Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook)" with the theme "The Role of Agricultural Transformation in Promoting Broad-based and More Inclusive Structural Transformation." The SEA Agri Outlook Series will cover country- and regional-level agricultural situation analyses and outlooks. It adopts a comprehensive mixed-methods approach to generate evidence-based insights and forward-looking policy recommendations. The workshop will provide… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the University of Asia and the Pacific's Center for Food and Agri Business (UA&P-CFA), will hold the Food and Agribusiness Forum on 30 January 2026 at PLDT Hall, UA&P, Pasig City. The forum, titled "Harnessing Economies of Scale: Consolidation Pathways for Philippine Food and Agribusiness," will gather agribusiness leaders, policymakers, farmers' groups, researchers, and development organizations to discuss how consolidation strategies can integrate value chains, reduce fragmentation, and foster sustainable agribusiness models that empower both enterprises and smallholders in the country. The… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—A newly released issue of the Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) series by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reveals that while the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) has significantly boosted overall regional commerce, its benefits for the agricultural sector remain unevenly distributed across Southeast Asian nations. Titled "Trade Creation or Diversion? Assessing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement's Uneven Impact on ASEAN Agricultural Trade," the ADN is co-authored by Mr. Paul Neilmer Feliciano, a program manager and economist at the Ateneo Policy Center, and Mr. Manuel Leonard Albis, an assistant professor… Read more

Seven studies published in the December 2025 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD)—a publication of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)—examine emergent trends in Asian agriculture. These papers explore long-standing themes such as digitalization, gender inclusion, climate adaptation, and data systems that are increasingly shaping policy and practice across the region. It is commonly believed that limited buying capacity restricts farmers' access to information and communication technology (ICT), limiting their participation in a digital society. Nonetheless, in the study "Exploring Forms of Capital in Farmers' ICT Use and Its… Read more

For many smallholder farmers in the Mekong region, growing and selling crops often means relying on middlemen, accepting uncertain prices, and having limited access to timely technical advice. Innovation has now arrived at the farmers' hands through a smartphone application—the Mekong Farm app. By connecting farmers with buyers, value chain actors, peers, and agroecology experts, the app is beginning to turn everyday mobile phones into tools for market access, learning, and informed decision-making. Led by Greenovator, the enhancement of the Mekong Farm app was funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Grants… Read more

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), showcased the Center's initiatives in smart agriculture, carbon neutrality, One Health, and biotechnology at the 2025 X Agriculture Forum held on 2 December 2025. The event was hosted by the National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Bioresources and Agriculture (CBA). In her presentation, Sombilla discussed SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP): Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). This plan guides the Center in implementing programs and initiatives that accelerate the shift from subsistence… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Representatives from Don Bosco - One TVET Philippines, Inc. and various Don Bosco training centers visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 3 December 2025 to learn about the Center's best practices in agricultural innovation, sustainability, and institutional collaboration. Don Bosco - One TVET Philippines, Inc. is the national coordinating office for the network of Don Bosco training centers across the Philippines, providing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to young Filipinos. Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, SEARCA Deputy Director for Programs, provided the visitors with an overview of… Read more