SEARCA News

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The uptake of any rice variety, from farm to table, is a complex process shaped by the divergent priorities of multiple stakeholders. Presenting his team's study "Understanding the Uptake of NSIC Rc 160 Rice Variety in the Philippines" at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held on 25 February 2026 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and livestreamed via Facebook, Dr. Jaime Manalo IV of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) underscored how divided priorities along the rice chain have slowed the progress of Rc 160. The variety… Read more

PENANG, Malaysia—To inspire the next generation of Southeast Asian scientists to envision a future in agriculture, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) led an interactive session on 10 February 2026 at the 14th Regional Congress Search for SEAMEO Young Scientists (SSYS). The event was organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM). Designed to broaden youth perspectives on modern agriculture, the session showcased diverse career paths spanning agribusiness, agri-innovation, and technology-driven solutions critical to global food security. SEARCA spotlighted its programs and… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) officially launched its newest knowledge-sharing platform, the Meet the Diplomats Series (MDS), on 23 February 2026. This inaugural session featured Her Excellency Makawadee Sumitmor, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines, as the guest of honor. The event brought together a curated audience of diplomatic officials, government representatives, and specialists from the Los Baños Science Community, academe, and partner institutions to witness the launch of a platform designed to bridge the gap between foreign policy and regional agricultural goals. In… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—On 2–6 February 2026, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined Kasetsart University (KU) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in organizing a regional Workshop on Food and Nutrition Policy Analysis. The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of graduate students and young scholars across Southeast Asia for food and nutrition policy analysis. SEARCA was represented in the workshop by Mr. Stoix Nebin Pascua, Ms. Anna Gale Vallez, Ms. Ma. Christina Corales, and Ms. Darlyn Angeles, all Program Specialists from SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD)-Training for… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the CBSUA–SEARCA Joint International Conference 2026. Held on 12 February 2026 via Zoom, the signing formalizes the collaboration for 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), scheduled for 18–21 March 2026 at CBSUA, Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Anchored on the theme "Policy Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Mainstreaming Biodiversity, Agri/Ecotourism, and Disaster Resilience,"… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand have officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to launch the KU–SEARCA Joint Graduate Scholarship Program through the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Economics at KU. The agreement strengthens their shared commitment to cultivating highly trained professionals in agricultural and resource economics across Southeast Asia. The partnership, represented by Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, and Dr. Damrong Sripraram, Acting President of KU, establishes a three-year collaborative scholarship program beginning in Academic Year 2026/2027 and running through… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to launch its newest knowledge-sharing platform, the Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS), with an inaugural session on 23 February 2026. Anchored on SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), the MDS provides a vital space for aligning foreign policy priorities with regional agricultural and rural development goals. Building on its long-standing engagement with the diplomatic community, SEARCA is deepening partnerships with embassies and international missions to align agricultural and rural development with… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Eighteen Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students of Reedley International School, accompanied by their teachers, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 28 January 2026. The field trip aimed to explore the role of robotics in agriculture. Reedley International School is a private, nonsectarian, nontraditional, and co-educational school in Pasig City, Philippines, that combines progressive and traditional learning approaches. SEARCA has hosted Reedley International students since 2023. During the visit, the students were given a tour of the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) formalized a strategic partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on 12 February 2026. The agreement outlines joint initiatives in agricultural education, research, innovation, and capacity building across Southeast Asia and other tropical fruit-producing regions. TFNet, established in 2000 under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is an intergovernmental and inter-institutional organization dedicated to promoting sustainable global development in tropical fruit production, consumption, and trade. Under the five-year agreement, SEARCA… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines—Consolidation is emerging as a key strategy to strengthen Philippine agriculture and empower smallholders. This was the central message of the Food and Agribusiness Forum: Harnessing Economies of Scale: Consolidation Pathways for Philippine Food and Agribusiness, convened by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 30 January 2026 at UA&P. The forum brought together 82 stakeholders from government, academe, agribusiness, cooperatives, farmers' groups, and development organizations to explore strategies for integrating value chains, reducing farm fragmentation, and fostering sustainable and inclusive business… Read more