LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Five distinguished experts from universities across Southeast Asia have been awarded the SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair for Academic Year 2026–2027, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research, instruction, and innovation in support of agricultural and rural development in the region.
The SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair Award is an annual recognition given to outstanding academics who have made significant contributions to Sustaining Transformation through Agricultural Innovation (SUSTAIN) in Southeast Asia. Since the academic year 2012–2013, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has conferred the award on 72 highly accomplished recipients.
The new cohort of awardees includes Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Bambang Purwantara of IPB University in Indonesia, Prof. Ng Kee Woei of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, Prof. Adrian P. Ybañez of Cebu Technological University (CTU) in the Philippines, and Prof. Dr. Chanakan Prom-u-thai of Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
Dr. Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis, Associate Professor at UPM’s Faculty of Food Science and Technology, is a leading expert in food toxicology and food safety recognized among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists by Elsevier and Stanford University for three consecutive years. Collaborating globally with agencies like the International Atomic Energy Agency and ASEAN initiatives, his work advances science-based solutions to emerging food contaminants. He will deliver a public lecture titled “Genomics-Driven Authentication of Village Chicken: Identifying Breed-Specific Biomarkers for Sustainable Poultry Development in Southeast Asia.”
Prof. Bambang Purwantara of IPB University brings over four decades of academic service in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences. His research advances livestock reproduction—including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and molecular fertility studies—to improve cattle productivity, support food security, and promote biodiversity conservation for endangered species like native Indonesian cattle. His upcoming public lecture is titled “Assisted Reproductive Technology and Biobanking in Animals: Challenges and Opportunities in the Genomic Era.”
Prof. Ng Kee Woei, a distinguished professor at NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, focuses on nanotechnology, nanotoxicology, nanosafety, and the development of sustainable materials for biomedical, food, agricultural, and security applications. An expert for the World Health Organization and recipient of the 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) Salute to Excellence Award, his studies have advanced wound healing and hydroponic systems. He will present a public lecture on “Improving Sustainability in Agriculture through Innovations in Growing Media Technology.”
Prof. Adrian Ybañez, Professor VI at CTU, is recognized for his contributions to veterinary science, public health, and research development, with a focus on zoonotic diseases, molecular diagnostics, and animal health. His accolades include being named an Outstanding Young Scientist by DOST-NAST (2020), one of the Top 100 Asian Scientists (2022), and an Outstanding Veterinarian in Education (2023). Ybañez will share his work through a public lecture titled “Livestock Vector-borne Diseases and Their Impact on Animal Health and Economy.”
Prof. Dr. Chanakan Prom-U-Thai, a distinguished agronomist and Director of the Lanna Rice Research Center at Chiang Mai University, focuses on improving rice productivity, quality, and sustainability. Her team has developed over 10 rice varieties enriched with essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, anthocyanins, and vitamin E to provide healthier options and boost farmers’ incomes through efficient, cost-saving nutrient management. Her public lecture is titled “Biofortification for High-Yield, Nutrient-Dense Rice Through Nutrient Management.”