SEARCA in the News

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has affirmed its participation in the newly launched Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI), a regional platform aimed at strengthening collaborative and evidence-based agricultural policy research across Southeast Asia. CAPRI was formally launched during its onboarding workshop, convened by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), on April 27 to 28, 2026. The event brought together agricultural policy research institutions, development partners, and regional organizations from 11 Southeast Asian countries, alongside representatives from ASEAN and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Anchored on SEARCA's… Read more

The following link will take you to INQUIRER.net:Mayani to put up 2 more cooling facilities for vegetableshttps://opinion.inquirer.net/191635/ill-equipped-and-ill-prepared… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Youth in Agritalk show is set to tackle climate change in its upcoming episode titled "Climate Detectives: The Case of the Changing Climate." Airing on May 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. on SEARCA Center's Facebook page, the episode takes the youth to a playful journey into bizarre climate mysteries, helping them better understand how climate change affects agriculture and everyday life. The episode highlights the crucial role young people can play in addressing climate change, making it an important watch for those interested… Read more

MANILA — Land Bank of the Philippines is intensifying efforts to support food security and inclusive agricultural development across the region through partnerships with ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines and other stakeholders. The initiatives aim to address financing gaps, strengthen agricultural value chains, and improve the resilience of ASEAN food systems in support of the national government's food security agenda. The collaboration was highlighted during a high-level roundtable discussion on ASEAN food security held at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila on May 4 under the ASEAN-BAC Philippines platform. The discussion centered on the ASEAN Food Security Alliance Policy Paper, which… Read more

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — The Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN-BAC Philippines) on May 4 held a high-level roundtable on food security in Southeast Asia. The event brought together leaders from both the public and private sectors at Landbank Plaza in Manila. According to Landbank, the event focused on financial challenges, improving agricultural supply chains, and making food systems in Southeast Asia more resilient. These efforts support the Philippines' goals for food security. In a statement, Landbank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz pledged to mobilize capital, strengthen value chains… Read more

VIETNAM's successful transformation from the country fighting food insecurity to agriculture powerhouse was rooted in science, policy, and trust. The Southeast Asian country's successful transformation was recently shared by Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines, during a forum at the headquarters of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Laguna. The forum, the fourth installment of SEARCA's Meet the Diplomat Series, gathered scientists, students, and policymakers to discuss how cross-border cooperation can turn research into rural prosperity. SEARCA Director Mercedita Sombilla opened the… Read more

(EU and the Philippines Advance Green Trade as Youth Focus on Sustainable Development) 歐盟與菲律賓的綠色貿易合作正受到青年世代的高度關注。東南亞農業研究生產研究中心（Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, SEARCA）在菲律賓大學洛斯巴諾斯校區（University of the Philippines Los Baños, UPLB）的支持下，於日前舉行了第三屆「會見外交官系列」（Meet the Diplomat Series, MDS）會議。歐盟駐菲律賓大使 Massimo Santoro 出席會議，該平台旨在協調歐盟與菲律賓的外交政策優先事項。… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)'s Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI) held its onboarding workshop on April 27–28, 2026. The event convened representatives from national research institutions, development partners, and regional organizations from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries, reaffirming their collective commitment to advancing agricultural policy research and collaboration. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla emphasized the importance of evidence-based policymaking to address systemic challenges, including labor outmigration, an aging farming population, climate risks, and underinvestment in technology and infrastructure. She… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), with support from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), hosted the third session of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) featuring His Excellency Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines. The event served as a high-level platform for aligning EU foreign policy priorities with those of the Philippines. A central focus of Ambassador Santoro's discussion was economic growth, particularly the ongoing negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He expressed hope that the negotiations would be concluded in 2026… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently hosted the third session of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS), bringing together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the EU-Philippines alliance on trade, green innovation, and agricultural development. With the support of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the event, held on April 15, 2026, featured His Excellency Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines, who shared insights on the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and the Philippines. Sharing the EU's vision for… Read more