SEARCA in the News

BANGKOK, Thailand – Twenty-four professionals from eight ASEAN Member States have successfully completed the third ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP), concluding a six-month journey focused on climate-resilient agriculture and leadership. The program culminated on June 15, 2025, with a final session and graduation ceremony held in Bangkok. The final module brought together participants from government institutions, research organizations, civil society, and the public sector to present their Personal Change Projects (PCPs). These projects showcased innovative, on-the-ground solutions to local climate challenges, demonstrating the participants' commitment to driving sustainable change in the region. Participants synthesized core frameworks from the program, including… Read more

LAGUNA, Philippines – Over 40 rice farmers, representatives from irrigators' associations, and local government officials from Santa Maria, Laguna, gathered on June 18, 2025, for a workshop focused on advancing climate-resilient and sustainable practices in rice production. The event marked the third cycle of SEARCA's "Transforming Rice Farming through Low Carbon Solutions" initiative. The initiative is in partnership with Leads Agricultural Products Corporation (LEADS Agri) and Innovate UK, as part of the Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project. It seeks to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders across the rice value chain to promote sustainable, climate-friendly farming. During the workshop, participants learned… Read more

SERDANG, Malaysia — A groundbreaking research project in Malaysia has successfully used brain-wave technology to ensure that halal meat production is both humane and high-quality. The initiative, led by Professor Dr. Awis Qurni Sazili of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to objectively measure animal stress and pain during slaughter, aligning Islamic principles with modern animal welfare standards. Funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the project demonstrated that proper animal handling significantly reduces stress, which not only meets ethical concerns but also prevents the degradation of meat quality. "Consumers are… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Education and Collective Learning Department (ECLD), held a virtual information session to announce its full Master's and PhD scholarships for Academic Year 2026–2027. The annual event was designed to guide prospective graduate students from across the Southeast Asian region. The scholarships are open to nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The session provided a comprehensive overview of the program, aligning with SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan. SEARCA encourages applicants to… Read more

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM—Jaymark Warren Dia, Unit Head for Management Information Systems at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), has been honored with the prestigious Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Service Award 2024/2025. The award ceremony, held on July 1, 2025, during the 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference at the Empire Hotel, recognized Dia for his outstanding service, innovation, and unwavering commitment to SEARCA over the past two decades. Jaymark "Jay" Dia, a University of the Philippines Los Baños graduate in computer science with a graduate degree in business management, has been at the… Read more

KOICA, UPLB, and IRRI came together to showcase how global partnerships and emerging omics technologies are transforming agri-food systems across Asia and beyond at the 4th KOICA-UPLB-IRRI International Conference. The event convened scientists, scholars, and development partners to explore how genomics and bioinformatics address pressing challenges in food security, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihoods. "KOICA believes that science and innovation are key drivers of modernization. Through the establishment of the state-of-the-art Agricultural Genomics Research Center (AGRC), supported by academic partnerships, scholarships, and training programs, genome-based research and development capabilities will be significantly strengthened," said KOICA Philippines Country Director Jung Youngsun… Read more

Central Mindanao University (CMU) proudly celebrates the achievement of one of the faculty members of the College of Agriculture, Prof. Ma. Joverly Molde-Abello, a PhD in Horticulture candidate and CHED-SIKAP scholar, who was recognized as Best Presenter at the 10th University Consortium (UC) Graduate Forum held on June 2–3, 2025, at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia. With the theme "Innovative Agriculture and Green Technologies for a Resilient Future," the forum gathered 25 promising graduate scholars from 12 member universities of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), co-hosted by Universitas Brawijaya and the Southeast… Read more

THE application of artificial intelligence (AI) in fish farming is viable based on a pilot deployment of fish feeders in Malaysia. The pilot testing of the AI-assisted technology was made possible with a grant from the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions or GRAINS of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Agriculture (SEARCA) based in University of the Philippines Los Baños. Particularly in Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia, the installation of automated feeders in fish tanks has reduced time spent on manual feeding by 70 percent and cut feed waste by 20 percent. SEARCA said that for… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently sent a message of gratitude to J. Prospero "Popoy" De Vera III for his leadership during his tenure as Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson from 2018-2025. In a statement, SEARCA said: "De Vera's commitment to advancing Philippine higher education has inspired internationalization, innovation, resilience and global competitiveness." De Vera's support for SEARCA's project, Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR), empowered 612 faculty members across 60 state universities through training programs, mobility exchanges, and international collaborations. "We are especially… Read more

TIMOR-LESTE and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) are exploring possible areas of cooperation. This, as the Timor-Leste Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MLFF) officials, led by Secretary of State for Livestock José Vieira de Araujo, visited the SEARCA headquarters on May 29, 2025. With Araujo were Carlos Antunes Amaral, general director of Livestock and Veterinary; Agusto Barros, national director of Livestock and a SEARCA scholarship alumnus; Elizabeth Purificação Luan Mali, executive secretary; and Julio Cesar Sequeira Amaral, media officer. They were accompanied by representatives of the Timor-Leste Embassy in Manila… Read more