LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Twelve undergraduate students from the University of Tsukuba visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 24 February 2025 as part of their Social Impact Project designed to deepen their understanding of agriculture's role in sustainable development.
The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Nomura Nakao, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Taiwan at the Bureau of Global Initiatives; the Manager of International Admissions; the Associate Director of the Division of International Exchange Support under the Student Support Center; and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba. They were assisted by Ms. Rosario Bantayan, Program Coordinator of the Department of Education-Laguna and the UPLB: Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines (DUNONG), along with 12 UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod student volunteers.
The University of Tsukuba, a leading national public research university in Japan and an affiliate member of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), champions interdisciplinary learning and global education partnerships.
During the visit, Ms. Sharon Malaiba, Head of SEARCA's Partnerships Unit, introduced the Center's mandates and its 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). She highlighted the plan's focus on the 4Ps framework—Pocket (farmers' livelihood), Plate (food security), Place (climate resilience), and People (next-generation engagement).
Malaiba also presented SEARCA's policy research efforts, including studies on school meals, land use, and school garden biodiversity. She showcased partnerships such as the Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI), which supports evidence-based agricultural policymaking across Southeast Asia.
To illustrate how SEARCA fosters innovation, Malaiba introduced the Grants for Research Towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS) program, which funds prototypes addressing agricultural challenges. Featured projects included smart weather, dust, and carbon monitoring systems that support Thai growers, and an agri-financing platform connecting Myanmar farmers with investors.
The students were also briefed on SEARCA's training and knowledge-sharing platforms, including the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagements (SOLVE) Webinar Series, the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS), and the newly established Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS), which aligns agricultural development initiatives with foreign policy priorities.
Malaiba further discussed SEARCA's Graduate Scholarship Program, offering full MS and PhD scholarships and research grants to Southeast Asians. She also introduced the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), a regional network of premier universities for which SEARCA serves as Secretariat.
A lively question-and-answer session reflected the students' strong interest in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, SEARCA's direct impacts in the region, and youth engagement in agriculture.
Nomura emphasized the critical role of agriculture in environmental stability, warning that declining interest in the sector could lead to irreversible ecological consequences. He also stressed the importance of global collaboration, especially as countries like Japan face an aging farming population, with the average farmer now 70 years old.
In his closing message, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration Dr. Rico Ancog encouraged the students to adopt a global mindset and recognize agriculture's connection to any chosen field. He highlighted the influence of young consumers in promoting sustainable and responsible food systems.
The visit concluded with a tour of the SEARCA Hub for Agricultural and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) AgriMuseum, where the students learned about Southeast Asia's agricultural heritage, farm innovations, and agripreneurship, and enjoyed hands-on interactive exhibits.
SEARCA continues to welcome educational visits as part of its mission to inspire future agriculture leaders, foster cross-cultural learning, and strengthen partnerships supporting sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation in Southeast Asia.