BANGKOK — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has officially launched the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook Series), a flagship initiative designed to provide data-driven, policy-relevant insights into the region's agricultural transformation.
The Inception Workshop for the series was held on 26–27 January 2026, bringing together country experts from 11 Southeast Asian nations to establish a unified framework for comprehensive agricultural analysis across the region.
A Comprehensive Analytical Framework
Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, welcomed participants and outlined the ambitious scope of the publication. The SEA Agri Outlook Series employs a mixed-methods analytical framework that integrates quantitative data, stakeholder engagement, and modeling tools to deliver a holistic assessment of agricultural performance.
"The series aims to offer a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of agricultural performance and transformation across 11 Southeast Asian countries," Dr. Sombilla explained. Building on earlier regional studies, the initiative emphasizes systemic agricultural transformation to strengthen food security, reduce poverty, and advance sustainable development.
Expert Contributions and Regional Perspectives
The first day featured presentations from 11 country experts who provided overviews of their respective agricultural sectors, including current performance metrics, food and nutrition security status, and major policy interventions. These discussions ensured alignment between proposed country studies and the series' overarching objectives.
Ms. Bernice Anne De Torres, Program Coordinator of SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), facilitated discussions on workshop objectives and intended outputs while guiding experts through the process of defining methods of analysis, data needs, and report content.
Advanced Modeling and Analytical Tools
Mr. Angga Pradesha, Senior Scientist from the International Food Policy Research Institute's (IFPRI) Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit, introduced participants to the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model and IFPRI's Agricultural Transformation Index (ATI). His workshop addressed data requirements and country-specific scenarios for CGE model analyses, equipping experts with sophisticated tools for their studies.
FAO Collaboration Enhances Regional Perspective
The Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP) contributed valuable insights through Ms. Meeta Punjabi Mehta, Senior Food Systems Officer. Mehta expressed FAO-RAP's commitment to sharing its Regional Foresight Report, which contains critical data on future food systems direction. She also highlighted ongoing regional horizon-scanning initiatives that provide countries with scenario-based analyses to identify emerging challenges over the next four to five years.
Strengthening Regional Data Infrastructure
On the workshop's second day, Ms. Donna Bae Malayang, Program Associate at RTLD, opened with a recap that set the stage for discussions on SEARCA's Southeast Asian Agricultural Statistics Database (SAASD). Ms. Rochella Lapitan, Program Specialist at RTLD, presented the database as a comprehensive, open-access dashboard featuring interactive visualizations, trends, charts, maps, and downloadable datasets.
Together with Ms. Elizabeth Alcachupas, also a Program Specialist at RTLD, Lapitan presented an initial set of indicators for the SAASD and invited expert input to refine the database's utility for regional analysis.
Assessing Agricultural Transformation
Experts engaged in intensive group discussions to assess the current state of agricultural transformation across the 11 participating countries. These sessions examined key drivers, persistent challenges, and ongoing interventions while reviewing existing policies, investments, and institutional reforms. Participants also identified additional policy measures needed to accelerate and sustain transformation, generating critical inputs for SEARCA's regional cross-country analysis.
Next Steps and Strategic Alignment
De Torres outlined the next steps and activity timeline, tasking country experts with submitting individual research plans to complete their studies. The workshop concluded with Dr. Sombilla expressing gratitude to participants for their active involvement.
"While substantial progress has been made, further work lies ahead," Dr. Sombilla noted, emphasizing the importance of this collaborative endeavor toward publishing the SEA Agri Outlook Series, which is expected to be highly relevant to SEARCA and participating governments.
The SEA Agri Outlook Series is firmly anchored in SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), which aims to accelerate sustainable agricultural transformation through innovation, partnerships, and evidence-based policies.