SEARCA News

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Under the banner of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program—a collaboration between the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Villgro Philippines—three gender-inclusive agri-enterprises in Southeast Asia made notable strides in scaling climate-resilient business models. Launched earlier this year, the program provided a platform for mentorship, market validation, and investment readiness for early-stage enterprises. Over four months, participants engaged in diagnostic panels, learning labs, masterclasses, self-paced modules, peer learning, and 36 hours of one-on-one mentorship with 16 experts and trainers. Culminating in the SAFE Impact Showcase on 3… Read more

MANILA, Philippines—Scientists, regulators, and media professionals convened in a media forum jointly organized by Science Communicators Philippines (SciCommPH), CropLife Philippines, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 14 October 2025 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila. The forum brought key stakeholders into dialogue on the country's biotechnology research, regulation, and adoption landscape. Discussions highlighted progress in agricultural innovation and the growing need for stronger communication and policy coherence in the sector. In her welcome message, Dr. Ruby Roan Cristobal, SciCommPH PresidentmPH, underscored biotechnology's vital role in addressing food security, public health, and… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) presented the Dayami Hub concept of its Rice Straw Biogas Hub project in the recently held Agrifuture Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Bangkok on 23–24 September 2025. Organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG Asia Pacific), the conference convened over 300 participants from government agencies, private enterprises, innovation entities, and sustainability groups representing more than 20 countries across Southeast Asia and beyond. With the theme "Clean Practices and Green Innovations for a Sustainable Agri-Food System," the event highlighted efforts to advance sustainable and eco-friendly approaches in… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Nagoya University (NU) formally signed a memorandum of agreement on 13 October 2025 to establish the Nagoya University-SEARCA Joint Transnational PhD Scholarship for Philippine Nationals. The signing ceremony reaffirmed their long-standing partnership, which began in 1986. The transnational PhD scholarship program is tailored for working professionals in the fields of engineering, agriculture, international development, and environmental studies, allowing them to pursue doctoral studies without leaving their jobs or countries. It will combine face-to-face supervision with online engagement, offering Filipino students an opportunity to visit… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Fifty-eight agri-biotech stakeholders from academic institutions, government regulatory agencies, and the private sector joined the forum on "Bridging Biotechnology Innovation and Regulations: Orientation on Microbial-based Product Development and Commercialization in the Academic Setting" held on 18 September 2025 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to map practical ways to speed up rigorous approval of microbial-based products developed in academic institutions. Co-organized by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) and SEARCA, the forum focused on improving researchers' and government regulators' mutual… Read more

MANILA, Philippines—Science Communicators Philippines, CropLife Philippines, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will jointly organize a media forum on biotechnology research and development (R&D) and regulatory landscape in the Philippines on 14 October 2025 at the Century Park Hotel. The event will be livestreamed simultaneously via Zoom and Facebook Live. The forum will convene media practitioners and science communicators from mainstream print, broadcast, and online media to discuss recent advances in agricultural biotechnology R&D, policy frameworks, and enabling programs that support its safe and responsible use in addressing food security, climate resilience… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) marked a pivotal moment in its institutional journey as it convened its 73rd Governing Board Meeting (GBM) on 29–30 September 2025 at its headquarters within the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus. The meeting culminated in the formal endorsement and support of SEARCA's updated 12th Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP), setting the strategic direction for the Center from FY 2025/2026 to FY 2029/2030. The approved updated plan is themed Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia) and signals… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines— The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is calling on photographers, students, hobbyists, agripreneurs, and storytellers across Southeast Asia to join the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest. This year's theme, "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," invites images that reveal the often-unseen steps that bring food from farms and seas to our tables. The contest looks for powerful, human-centered stories showing life after harvest—how crops are cleaned and sorted, how food is processed and packaged, how goods travel by road and water to markets, how vendors and… Read more

CORON, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Palawan, convened a workshop to craft an upscaling strategy and conduct the end-of-project evaluation for the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) project in Busuanga Island. Held on 23–25 September 2025, the event gathered 32 participants , including representatives from local government units, school heads, principals, and focal persons for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) from both pilot and adopted schools across the island. Coron municipal agriculture committee chair Ma. Aurora… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) officially launched the search for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) during an OSSA Selection Committee meeting held on 26 September 2025. This initiative aims to honor SEARCA graduate alumni who embody the Center's core values and philosophy and have demonstrated excellence in their professional fields, made impactful contributions to public service, and engaged in initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture and rural development in Southeast Asia. During the meeting, the OSSA Selection Committee reviewed the 2016 OSSA cycle, including the award categories and selection criteria… Read more