SEARCA in the News

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Nagoya University (NU) officially signed a memorandum of agreement on 13 October 2025 to establish the Nagoya University-SEARCA Joint Transnational PhD Scholarship for Philippine Nationals. The formal signing reaffirmed the two institutions' enduring partnership, which traces its roots back to 1986. Tailored for working professionals in engineering, agriculture, international development, and environmental studies, the transnational PhD scholarship program enables participants to earn their doctorates without leaving their current employment or home countries. The innovative initiative blends face-to-face supervision with online engagement and provides Filipino students the… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program—a collaborative initiative by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Villgro Philippines—has empowered three gender-inclusive agri-enterprises across Southeast Asia to scale up climate-resilient business models and unlock critical investment opportunities. Launched earlier this year, the SAFE Acceleration Program offered mentorship, market validation, and investment readiness support for early-stage agricultural enterprises. Over a four-month journey, participants underwent diagnostic panels, interactive learning labs, masterclasses, and peer exchanges, culminating in 36 hours of personalized mentoring from 16 experts and trainers. This initiative concluded with… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Nagoya University (NU) formally signed a memorandum of agreement on 13 October 2025 to establish the Nagoya University-SEARCA Joint Transnational PhD Scholarship for Philippine Nationals. The signing ceremony reaffirmed their long-standing partnership, which began in 1986. The transnational PhD scholarship program is tailored for working professionals in the fields of engineering, agriculture, international development, and environmental studies, allowing them to pursue doctoral studies without leaving their jobs or countries. It will combine face-to-face supervision with online engagement, offering Filipino students an opportunity to visit… Read more

In a move to drive innovation and regulatory responsiveness in agricultural biotechnology, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) co-organized a high-level forum on Bridging Biotechnology Innovation and Regulations: Orientation on Microbial-based Product Development and Commercialization in the Academic Setting on September 18, 2025, at SEARCA. The event brought together 58 agri-biotech stakeholders from academic institutions, government regulatory bodies, and the private sector to discuss practical solutions for streamlining the approval and registration of microbial-based products developed… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) marked a defining milestone as it hosted the 73rd Governing Board Meeting (GBM) on 29–30 September 2025 at its headquarters at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus. A highlight of the meeting was the formal endorsement and adoption of SEARCA's updated 12th Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP) for FY 2025/2026 to FY 2029/2030. The plan, themed Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), represents a strategic shift towards acceleration in regional agricultural development, positioning SEARCA as a catalyst for… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Palawan, successfully held a three-day workshop to develop an upscaling strategy and conduct the end-of-project evaluation for the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) project in Busuanga Island. The event, held from 23 to 25 September 2025, convened 32 participants, including local government unit representatives, school heads, principals, and focal persons for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) from both pilot and adopted schools across the island. Coron Municipal Agriculture Committee Chair Ma… Read more

The 7th University Consortium Faculty Forum (UCFF) brought together faculty, researchers, and policymakers from Southeast Asia to champion science, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Hosted by Central Mindanao University (CMU) on 24–25 September 2025 in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon, the event centered on the theme, "Building a Sustainable Future: Agriculture in a Green Economy for Global Food Security." Dr. Jose Valmorida, Vice President for Academic Affairs, delivered CMU's welcome message, underscoring the need to align agricultural research with green economy principles to safeguard food systems and the environment. He also marked the historic… Read more

CAGAYAN DE ORO and BUKIDNON, Philippines—Science, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships framed the 7th University Consortium Faculty Forum (UCFF), which convened faculty members, researchers, and policymakers from across Southeast Asia to exchange insights on how agriculture can drive the transition to a green economy and ensure global food security. Hosted by Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon, Philippines on 24–25 September 2025, the forum had the theme "Building a Sustainable Future: Agriculture in a Green Economy for Global Food Security." In his welcome message, Dr. Jose Valmorida, Vice President for Academic Affairs of CMU, spoke on behalf… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—An important window of opportunity for a healthy and productive adult life lies with basic education according to a study presented at the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held on 24 September 2025. Nutritionist-dietician Ma. Cristina Sison, who co-authored the study "Youth Engagement in Transforming the Food System to Address Malnutrition in the Philippines" published in the 20th anniversary issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), brought to the discussion table a crucial yet often overlooked role of nutrition in economic development, especially among the youth. Stressing the link between good nutrition with… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is proud to announce the opening of nominations for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026. This prestigious award recognizes the exceptional contributions of SEARCA scholarship alumni/alumnae who have completed their Master's or PhD degrees and made significant impacts in sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) within the region. The OSSA 2026 program aims to highlight the achievements of individuals who embody SEARCA's core values and philosophy, demonstrating excellence in their respective professional fields. The award seeks to celebrate leaders and innovators who have emerged from SEARCA's… Read more