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 initiatives, including graduate scholarships, youth talk show and competitions, learning events, and agri-innovation grants, to help students recognize agriculture as a dynamic, high-impact field.
Combining an agriculture career information session with a live agri-robotics demonstration and interactive quiz, SEARCA's two-hour engagement was facilitated by its team of young professionals: Mr. Sonny Pasiona, Program Specialist, Education and Collective Learning Department – Training for Development Unit (ECLD-T4DU); Ms. Darlyn Angeles, Program Specialist, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD); and Ms. Loise Ann Carandang, Senior Associate, Partnerships and Linkages, Partnerships Unit (PU). The session drew over 100 students and teachers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
At the outset, facilitators asked participants if they were considering agriculture as a career; none raised their hands. A pre-session Mentimeter poll further revealed that the youth largely associated agriculture with traditional images such as crops, farmers, planting, livestock, and rural life, reflecting perceptions that the sector remains strictly labor-intensive and conventional.
To challenge these views, the facilitators emphasized agriculture's critical role in food security, economic growth, and rural development, while addressing the sector's current challenges such as labor shortages and climate change. SEARCA also highlighted the advanced technologies transforming the sector, including robotics, sensors, automation, and coding systems used in modern farming.
By the end of the activity, the same question asked in a follow-up Mentimeter poll showed significant shift. Many students expressed interest in pursuing agriculture-related careers, recognizing the sector's vital role in economic growth and food security. One student noted that the activity "actually convinced" them to consider a career in agricultural research and innovation, illustrating how the session fostered more positive and informed perceptions about the agriculture sector.
This year's SSYS, themed, "Greenovate: Youth Turning Vision into Action for a Sustainable Future," brought together secondary-level Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students from eight SEAMEO member countries, namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The event served as a platform for young scientists to showcase their innovative research aligned with sustainability and environmental stewardship, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SEARCA's participation strengthened inter-center collaboration within the SEAMEO network and extended the Center's youth engagement efforts to basic education learners, a key stakeholder group for cultivating early interest in STEM fields that intersect with agriculture. By engaging youth at this stage, SEARCA advances its 12th Five-Year Development Plan, Sustaining Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), particularly the key priority area of Education, Capacity Building, and Youth Engagement.
This collaboration with RECSAM underscores SEARCA's commitment to empowering the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders and innovators who will shape the future of sustainable agriculture and food security in the region.