LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Six students from Nagasaki University visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 26 February 2026 as part of the Global Social Responsibility (GSR) Short-Term Study Program, aimed at deepening their understanding of Philippine business, culture, economy, and entrepreneurship.
The students were accompanied by Asst. Prof. Bebio Vieira Amaro of Nagasaki University and Asst. Prof. Rei Chino Pua of the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (UPLB-DAME).
Nagasaki University, a national institution in Japan, is recognized for its strong commitment to promoting Planetary Health. The visit marks its second engagement with SEARCA under the same program, following a similar delegation in 2023.
During the visit, Mr. Joseph Matthew Hedreyda, Senior Associate for Partnership and Advocacy of SEARCA's Partnerships Unit, presented the Center's mandates and its 12th Five-Year Development Plan: SUSTAIN Southeast Asia (Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia). He emphasized the plan's 4Ps framework—Pocket (increasing farmer incomes), Plate (improving food security), Place (building climate resilience), and People (empowering future leaders).
The delegation also received an overview of SEARCA's core programs in education, research, and innovation. Ms. Blessie Saez, Senior Program Associate of the Education and Collective Learning Department, highlighted SEARCA's Graduate Scholarship Program, which offers MS and PhD scholarships, research grants, and non-degree training to Southeast Asians. She also discussed academic grants such as the Regional Professorial Chair Grants, the Academic Bridging Program for CLMV countries and Timor-Leste, and the Faculty and Student Mobility Grant.
Saez introduced the visitors to the Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) Program, which supports universities across Southeast Asia, and the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), a network of leading universities in the region and beyond.
The students also learned about SEARCA's capacity-building initiatives, including its training programs, the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagements (SOLVE) Webinar Series, the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS), and the Meet the Diplomat Series, which promotes knowledge exchange and regional cooperation.
She likewise presented SEARCA's youth-focused initiative, Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI), which encourages young leaders to pursue careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture while developing innovative solutions to strengthen the agri-food system.
Ms. Maria Carla Dolores of the Research and Thought Leadership Department presented SEARCA's work in community development and social responsibility. She highlighted the School-plus-Home Gardens Program (S+HGP) and its spinoffs, including the School and Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement Enterprise (SHGBEE) in the Philippines and Cambodia, and the School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) in Rizal. She also discussed value chain development projects supporting the calamansi and coconut industries.
The group was further briefed on SEARCA's support mechanisms and knowledge platforms, including the Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT), SEARCA Travel Grants Program (STGP), fellowship programs, and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Knowledge Platform.
To present SEARCA's innovation initiatives, Dr. Emil John Cabrera, Program Head of the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department, introduced projects funded under the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS). These included prototypes such as affordable hydroponic probiotics for Lao PDR farmers, black soldier fly technology for organic waste conversion in the Philippines, and an agri-financing platform connecting Myanmar farmers to investors.
Cabrera also discussed the ACCELERATOR Program, which supports startups through mentorship, diagnostics, and market linkage. He highlighted partner enterprises such as ADS, a fruit and vegetable onsite-online platform, and Preksvay Farm, which empowers women farmers through vermicomposting.
He concluded by sharing SEARCA's initiatives in smart farming, agri-robotics, and mechanization, including regional collaboration through the SEA Network of Open Systems and Sustainable Agri-Machinery Manufacturing (OSAMM).
SEARCA continues to welcome international student groups as part of its commitment to fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders. Through such visits, the Center strengthens cross-cultural learning and promotes inclusive and sustainable agricultural development across Southeast Asia.