BANGKOK, Thailand — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) participated in the 48th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) High Officials Meeting (HOM) held in Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort on 18–20 November 2025, in celebration of SEAMEO's 60th anniversary.
With the theme, "Leading Through Learning: Empowering Schools and Communities in Southeast Asia," the meeting gathered over 150 delegates, including the 11 high officials from all SEAMEO Member Countries, along with representatives from Associate and Affiliate Members, SEAMEO Center Directors, and global partners to strengthen cooperation in education, science, and culture.
SEARCA was represented by Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director; Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, Deputy Director for Administration; and Ms. Julie Ann Barril, Executive Coordinator to the Director.
A key highlight of the event was the formal approval of SEARCA's updated 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), marking a strategic milestone in advancing sustainable agriculture.
Several SEARCA working papers were also confirmed, including those on Landscape Analysis of School Meals Programmes Implemented in Southeast Asia, which aims to assess the current state, document and compare good practices regionally and globally, and identify policy and implementation gaps to provide recommendations for harmonized school meals programs; the Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI), which is a platform for evidence-based agricultural policy innovation in Southeast Asia; and the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook Series), which will analyze ongoing agricultural transformation and propose solutions to key challenges in the region.
Sombilla highlighted SEARCA's Rice Straw Biogas Hub (RSBH) project, which transforms rice straw into biochar and compost for soil regeneration, substrate for food and feed production, and clean energy feedstock. Singapore cited this initiative as a model for education-driven eco-innovation.
SEARCA also showcased its Postgraduate Micro-Credential on Food Security and Climate Change, funded by Erasmus+, during the SEAMEO Gallery Walk. Sombilla took part in special sessions on leadership in schools and the alignment of artificial intelligence efforts across Southeast Asia.
On the final day, Florendo represented SEARCA at the SEAMEO Inter-Centre Collaboration (ICC) Partnership Coordination Meeting led by the SEAMEO Regional Centre for STEM Education (STEM-ED). This session gathered SEAMEO Centers and partners, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office for Climate Education, to explore joint strategies for advancing STEM and climate change education across the region.
The 48th HOM reaffirmed the dedication of SEAMEO Centers, Member Countries, and partners to promoting education, science, and culture for the more than 650 million people of Southeast Asia. As SEAMEO's center of excellence in agriculture, SEARCA is actively aligning its SUSTAIN Southeast Asia initiatives with the SEAMEO Strategic Plan 2021–2031, to drive education, rural development, and innovation throughout the region.