SEARCA in the News

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

MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—Twenty-six graduate students from across Southeast Asia, Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey recently engaged in a 12-day program at a university and two provinces in Central Luzon for an intensive academic and field-based project. The the graduate students participated in the ninth University Consortium Summer School (UC SS) hosted by Central Luzon State University (CLSU), in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), said SEARCA in a news release. With the theme "Ridge to Reef: Integrated… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) here is offering full scholarships for Master's and PhD programs in agriculture for the academic year 2026-2027. The scholarships are open to nationals of 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. With regional priorities, the scholarship program aligns with SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan, focusing on critical areas such as increasing farmers' income, improving food security and nutrition, enhancing climate resilience of agricultural systems, and empowering agricultural stakeholders. SEARCA said… Read more

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — As the provincial government of Quezon was honored as the "Outstanding Provincial LGU for the 2025 Bayaniyugan Award," Governor Angelina Helen Tan declared her administration's continued commitment to uplifting the province's coconut farmers. This recognition reaffirms the province's reputation as a leader in the coconut industry, which it has long held as the country's top coconut producer. Quezon province was singled out for this award due to its critical role as the Philippines' top coconut industry. With over 47% of its total land area dedicated to coconut farms, the province produces more than 1.4 million metric… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — To gain insights into the latest agricultural initiatives, a group of 70 aspiring agriculturists from across the Philippines visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Aug. 28, 2025. Representing various universities from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the visiting students are preparing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists through the Upstep Review Center. SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, Associate Professor Joselito Florendo, welcomed the group, underscoring the vital role of agriculturists in the Philippines. Florendo emphasized that the "licensure examination is not just a requirement but also an… 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… Read more

RADARCIREBON.TV- Di tengah kondisi ekonomi yang tidak selalu stabil, biaya pendidikan tinggi sering kali menjadi batu sandungan bagi banyak pelajar dan mahasiswa. Semangat untuk melanjutkan studi ke jenjang S1, S2, bahkan S3, kerap terhambat oleh beban finansial yang semakin berat. Tak sedikit yang akhirnya harus menunda atau bahkan mengubur mimpi akademiknya karena keterbatasan dana. Namun, di balik tantangan tersebut, selalu ada jalan keluar. Salah satunya melalui program beasiswa yang ditawarkan oleh pemerintah, lembaga swasta, hingga institusi internasional. Beasiswa bukan hanya soal bantuan biaya kuliah, melainkan juga peluang membuka jaringan global, pengalaman akademik yang lebih luas, serta motivasi untuk terus berprestasi… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — A group of 70 aspiring agriculturists from across the Philippines visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on August 28, 2025, to gain insights into the latest agricultural initiatives. The students, who are preparing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists through the Upstep Review Center, represented various universities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, welcomed the group, underscoring the vital role of agriculturists in the Philippines. He emphasized that the licensure exam is not just a requirement, but also an opportunity… Read more

A GROUNDBREAKING research project in Malaysia has successfully utilized brain-wave technology to ensure that halal meat production is both humane and high quality. Funded by the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), this project, led by Professor Awis Qurni Sazili of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has made significant strides in aligning Islamic principles with modern animal welfare standards. The research team used electroencephalography (EEG) to objectively measure animal stress and pain during slaughter. The study found a clear correlation between handling methods and brain activity, with unprofessional handling resulting in a significant increase… Read more