LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Eighteen undergraduate agribusiness students from Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) gained a deeper understanding of how science, innovation, policy, and partnerships can drive agricultural transformation during their visit to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 10 August 2026.
The visit formed part of Tokyo NODAI’s Philippine Field Practice, now in its 27th year, and reflected the enduring partnership between Tokyo NODAI and SEARCA. It also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan, with 2026 officially designated as the Philippines-Japan Friendship Year.
Welcoming the students, Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, emphasized the critical role of young people in shaping the future of agriculture and agrifood systems. She underscored that agriculture is not only about food production but also about livelihoods, communities, economies, and the environment.
She challenged the students to become future agricultural leaders who can connect research with practice and translate policy into practical solutions that respond to the needs of farmers, communities, and economies.
The students were briefed on SEARCA’s core mandates in graduate scholarships, policy research, and agricultural technology dissemination, as well as the Center’s work through its departments on education and collective learning, research and thought leadership, and emerging innovation for growth.
Ms. Bernice Anne De Torres, Program Coordinator at SEARCA’s Research and Thought Leadership Department, presented the Center’s research agenda under its 12th Five-Year Development Plan, Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). She highlighted SEARCA’s 4Ps framework, which focuses on boosting farmer incomes, enhancing food security, building climate resilience, and empowering the next generation of agricultural stakeholders.
De Torres also discussed SEARCA’s policy research initiatives, including the Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) and the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series, which generate evidence-based insights to support inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation in the region. She also presented ongoing research projects on food system transformation, healthy diets, agricultural biotechnology, and food and agribusiness policy.
Dr. Emil John Cabrera, Program Head of SEARCA’s Emerging Innovation for Growth Department, showcased programs that help move innovations from concept to community impact. These include the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS), which supports scalable field-level innovations such as AI-powered smart fish feeders, black soldier fly farming, and circular bioplastic development.
He also introduced the ACCELERATOR Program, which supports agri-startups through diagnostics, mentorship, market access, and networking. Through partnerships with enterprises in Timor-Leste and Lao PDR, the program contributes to protein security, livelihood development, and women’s economic participation.
Cabrera further highlighted SEARCA’s work in knowledge and technology transfer, including open-systems tractor designs, agri-robotics, AI-driven precision agriculture solutions, and the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub, which converts agricultural residues into bioenergy, biochar, compost, and mushroom substrates as alternatives to open-field burning.
The session concluded with an open forum where students asked about farmers’ mechanization needs and their willingness to adopt smart technologies. The discussion reinforced the importance of developing innovations that are affordable, accessible, and responsive to the realities of smallholder farmers.
The students also toured the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) AgriMuseum, which features interactive exhibits on agriculture and rural development.
By engaging with SEARCA’s work in policy, innovation, and agribusiness, the 36th batch of Tokyo NODAI students gained a closer look at Southeast Asia’s evolving agricultural landscape and the solutions needed to build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems.
For six decades, SEARCA has advanced agricultural graduate education, research, innovation, and knowledge exchange by working with academic institutions, governments, international development organizations, private agribusiness firms, and farming communities across Southeast Asia.