THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) are set to host the CBSUA-SEARCA Joint International Conference 2026 on March 18-21 in Camarines Sur.
Through the 7th International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture and the 4th International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens and Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise, the conference will bring together global and regional experts to advance sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient agri-food systems across Southeast Asia.
SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said the conference is expected to "contribute significantly to the development of policy pathways for sustainable agriculture, food security, and agritourism in the region, ultimately benefiting the livelihoods of farmers, communities and future generations."
The conference is anchored on the theme "Policy Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Mainstreaming Biodiversity, Agri/Ecotourism, and Disaster Resilience." Its primary purpose is to serve as a platform for policymakers, researchers, educators, and development practitioners to exchange knowledge and translate research insights into actionable policies and programs.
Through immersive mobile ecosystem workshops and keynote addresses, SEARCA said the conference will highlight national priorities on higher education reform, food security, agricultural modernization, and climate resilience. The event will focus on four thematic areas: school and home gardens as community and social enterprise hubs; biodiversity-enhanced food systems; regenerative agritourism and ecotourism; and climate- and disaster-resilient agricultural initiatives.
According to SEARCA, the conference will provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders to share best practices, innovations, and policy perspectives on biodiversity conservation, food systems, nutrition, agri/ecotourism, and disaster resilience.
The conference will feature plenary sessions and panel discussions with experts from renowned institutions, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, SEARCA, Alliance of Bioversity International and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical or CIAT, Kansas State University, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Universitas Asa Indonesia, and National Chung Hsing University.
SEARCA said the conference outputs will include policy recommendations, conference proceedings, and selected peer-reviewed publications in SEARCA's Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development and CBSUA's Multidisciplinary Research and Extension Journal.
Through the joint conference, SEARCA, CBSUA, and Kansas State University reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and advancing science-based solutions that support biodiversity conservation, food security and climate resilience across Southeast Asia.