SEARCA News
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—On 15 April 2026, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), with the support of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), hosted the third session of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) featuring His Excellency Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines. The event served as a high-level platform for aligning EU foreign policy priorities with those of the Philippines. A central focus of the ambassador's discussion was the economic growth, specifically the ongoing negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Ambassador Santoro expressed hope that… Read more
MAKATI CITY, Philippines—In a significant initiative toward advancing a vision of resilience and sustainability by boosting the interconnected systems of human, animals, and environmental health, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) launched the Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean (ASEACA) program in the Philippines. The event was held at the New World Hotel in Makati on 26–27 March 2026. ASEACA not only aims to mitigate existing threats but also to proactively prevent… Read more
Los Baños, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to hold the Onboarding Workshop for the Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) on 27-28 April 2026 at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The event will bring together member institutions and partners to establish CAPRI as a premier regional platform for evidence-based agricultural policy research in Southeast Asia. Established under SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP) focused on Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), CAPRI is envisioned as a strategic regional consortium of leading… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted the fourth installment of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 16 April 2026, featuring His Excellency Dr. Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines, as the guest of honor. The event underscored the critical intersection of science and diplomacy in driving sustainable development across Southeast Asia. Opening the session, SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla highlighted Vietnam's remarkable transformation from a nation facing food security challenges decades ago into a global agricultural powerhouse. She… Read more
BATANGAS, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) co-hosted a dialogue titled "From Farms to Classrooms: Nourishing Futures Together" on 26 March 2026, at Tangway Integrated School in Lipa City, Batangas. The event convened key stakeholders, including educators, agricultural cooperatives, and local policymakers, to explore the strategic integration of local agriculture into school nutrition programs. In line with DepEd's efforts toward universal school feeding, the dialogue aimed to ensure the provision of safe, appropriate, and nutritious meals for all students. SEARCA's initiatives have demonstrated that fostering… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is set to convene the third session of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 15 April 2026, featuring the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines. The session will spotlight EU-Philippines bilateral relations, providing a platform to discuss shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration. Building on the success of the first two MDS sessions, which featured diplomats from Thailand and Spain, the event continues SEARCA's efforts to broaden its discourse with international partners on global and regional issues that shape sustainable development across Southeast… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the College of Development Communication (CDC) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), piloted YES! (Your English Sidekick) Micro-credential. This new online initiative is designed to bolster the English language proficiency of SEARCA scholars. The initiative builds on SEARCA's established language support efforts, particularly the Basic English Course. Previously, this course offered month-long in-person training to new scholars as part of their onboarding before they arrive at their study posts. However, shifting needs saw fewer incoming scholars requiring face-to-face instruction… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is gearing up for the next session of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 16 April 2026, featuring the Embassy of Vietnam in the Philippines. The session will spotlight the country's strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development, a timely topic amid regional efforts to strengthen resilience and foster innovation in agricultural systems. Continuing the momentum of previous installments featuring diplomatic officials from Thailand and Spain, the upcoming MDS will further broaden SEARCA's discourse with the international community on issues shaping agricultural and rural… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), and the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) formally launched the project titled Market Assessment of Selected Organic Export Crops in the Philippines through an inception meeting on 16 March 2026 at SEARCA in Los Baños, Laguna. The initiative follows the enactment of Republic Act No. 10068, the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which sought to develop and promote organic agriculture in the Philippines. This measure was later amended by RA 11511 to establish a comprehensive organic agriculture program… Read more
LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted the second installment of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 19 March 2026, featuring Economic and Commercial Counselor Silvia Torices de la Varga and Education Advisor Beatriz Jimeno Ortas of the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines. The session gathered officials and representatives from the Los Baños Science Community, academe, and partner institutions to deepen diplomatic and development cooperation between Spain and the Philippines, specifically in agriculture, education, and innovation. In her welcome remarks, SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla underscored Spain's development… Read more
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