SEARCA in the News

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) seminar underscored the pressing need for coastal communities in Southeast Asia to be integrated into national and local development strategies through the blue economy. The Agriculture and Development Seminar Series on August 20 that featured Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University presented insights on rethinking coastal poverty amid emerging economic opportunities. Ablan-Lagman emphasized that Southeast Asia's oceans possess immense potential for sustainable growth that is both inclusive and equitable. Titled "From Margins to Mainstream: Rethinking Coastal Poverty in the Age of the… Read more

THROUGH inclusive policies, the blue economy can combat multigenerational coastal poverty, alleviating the plight of Southeast Asian coastal residents who are vulnerable to low income and unpredictable climate change. It can integrate marginalized communities into its national and local development strategies. One essential requirement to facilitate this is interdisciplinary collaboration among many sectors in developing innovative solutions. This was the highlight of the seminar conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Aug. 20. In her presentation, Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University pointed out that Southeast Asia's oceans possess… Read more

Three early-stage enterprises from Laos, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines will present their community-driven, climate-smart agriculture solutions at the SAFE Impact Showcase on 3 October 2025. The event highlights how innovation at the grassroots level can build resilience against food insecurity and climate change in Southeast Asia. The showcase marks the culmination of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program, implemented by Villgro Philippines in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Over the past three months, the program has helped agritech and agri-enterprises refine business models, strengthen investment readiness… Read more

THE new 24 climate leaders from eight ASEANmember states will be designing their projects to have more community-wide impact. They graduated from the ASEAN Climate Leadership Program (ACLP) in Bangkok on June 15 after a six-month immersive training. The ACLP equips participants with the knowledge, skills and network necessary to drive sustainable change in their towns and cities. Supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Amsterdam Leadership Academy, it promotes transformational change and sustainable development across Southeast Asia. The graduates' projects showcased practical solutions… Read more

JAYMARK Warren Dia, unit head for Management Information Systems at the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to digital innovation. Dia received the prestigious Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Service Award 2024/2025 for his remarkable work in modernizing SEARCA's IT infrastructure and services. It was on July 1, 2025 during the 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference at the Empire Hotel in Brunei Darussalam when Dia was recognized for his outstanding service, innovation and unwavering commitment to SEARCA over the past two decades. A University of… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — In a seminar held on 20 August 2025, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) highlighted the pressing need for coastal communities in Southeast Asia to be integrated into national and local development strategies through the blue economy. This event, part of the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS), featured Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University (DLSU), who presented her insights on rethinking coastal poverty amid emerging economic opportunities. Ablan-Lagman emphasized that Southeast Asia's oceans possess immense potential for sustainable growth that is both inclusive and equitable… Read more

The second phase of the Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration (ATMI-II) initiative was officially launched in Jakarta on 4–5 August 2025, marking an important step forward in strengthening inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agri-food systems across Southeast and South Asia. Convened by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the event brought together over 30 senior representatives from governments, regional bodies, think tanks, and research… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines—A group of 14 undergraduate students from Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI), accompanied by faculty from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on August 19, 2025. The visit, part of the 35th batch of Tokyo NODAI's Philippine Field Practice, focused on exploring SEARCA's work in agribusiness development. Prof. Dr. Nina Nocon-Shimoguchi highlighted the long-standing collaboration between Tokyo NODAI and SEARCA, noting that SEARCA has been an integral part of the Philippine Field Practice for its entire 26-year history. Tokyo NODAI is… Read more

IN a step that could transform food systems in Southeast Asia and beyond, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in launching a new regional initiative. The "Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries (ATMI-II)" is an initiative that aims to help ASEAN member-countries design and implement policies that build inclusive, climate-resilient, and market-integrated food systems. Key objectives of the initiative include inclusive growth by… Read more

When people think of agriculture, they often picture farms and fishers—the fields, the waters, the harvests. What we rarely see are the stories in between—the people and processes that bring food from its source all the way to the plate. From sorting and packaging to transport, trading, and selling, these steps are just as vital in making sure food is safe, fresh, and nourishing for everyone. Themed "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest turns the spotlight on these "in-between" journeys—those overlooked moments that connect producers with markets, communities, and consumers… Read more