SEARCA in the News

THE Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), recently evaluated the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) Project in Cambodia. A comprehensive baseline study to support the implementation of the said SHGBEE Project, the study marks a critical step toward understanding the current conditions of selected pilot sites and generating evidence-based insights to guide the project's strategic direction. This partnership between SEARCA and CE SAIN in conducting the study is aimed at boosting sustainable agriculture and nutrition… Read more

KAMPONG THOM and SIEM REAP, Cambodia — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), has conducted a comprehensive baseline study to support the implementation of the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) Project in Cambodia. The baseline study marks a critical step toward understanding the current conditions of selected pilot sites and generating evidence-based insights to guide the project's strategic direction. The key pilot locations include Raksmey Sophanna High School and Samdech Euv High School, where site… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) featured Dr. Oskar Lecuyer, environmental economist at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in its latest Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) on September 12, 2025. Held both online and onsite, the event highlighted the Blue Environmental Sustainability Gap (Blue ESGAP) framework—a novel tool that guides the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. Lecuyer introduced Blue ESGAP as an advancement of AFD's original Environmental Sustainability Gap (ESGAP) model, now being piloted in Indonesia and the Philippines. Blue ESGAP uses specialized indicators to… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has made the official call for applications for the 2025 SEARCA Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS). According to SEARCA, the grants under initiative were designed to accelerate the growth of high-impact agricultural innovations and startup ventures that can revolutionize regional farming systems and uplift rural livelihoods across Southeast Asia. The SEARCA GRAINS program invites agri-innovators, researchers and dynamic startups who have developed working prototypes of agricultural solutions to elevate their innovations. “Successful applicants will receive critical support to scale their… Read more

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Cacao farmers in Davao City may soon benefit from a pioneering alert system that leverages satellites, sensors, and drones to safeguard crops and ensure a steady harvest of premium beans. The new technology, validated through a landmark project, uses satellite data, soil sensors, and drone imaging to provide advanced warnings of potential health disruptions to cacao plants. These warnings are delivered as simple mobile messages, allowing farmers to take prompt action and prevent crop losses. The project is funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through its Grants… Read more

Los Baños, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is proud to announce the official call for applications for the 2025 SEARCA Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS). This grant is designed to accelerate the growth of high-impact agricultural innovations and startup ventures that can revolutionize regional farming systems and uplift rural livelihoods across Southeast Asia. The SEARCA GRAINS program invites agri-innovators, researchers, and dynamic startups who have developed working prototypes of agricultural solutions to take their innovations to the next level. Successful applicants will receive critical support to scale… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) seminar underscored the pressing need for coastal communities in Southeast Asia to be integrated into national and local development strategies through the blue economy. The Agriculture and Development Seminar Series on August 20 that featured Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University presented insights on rethinking coastal poverty amid emerging economic opportunities. Ablan-Lagman emphasized that Southeast Asia's oceans possess immense potential for sustainable growth that is both inclusive and equitable. Titled "From Margins to Mainstream: Rethinking Coastal Poverty in the Age of the… Read more

THROUGH inclusive policies, the blue economy can combat multigenerational coastal poverty, alleviating the plight of Southeast Asian coastal residents who are vulnerable to low income and unpredictable climate change. It can integrate marginalized communities into its national and local development strategies. One essential requirement to facilitate this is interdisciplinary collaboration among many sectors in developing innovative solutions. This was the highlight of the seminar conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Aug. 20. In her presentation, Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University pointed out that Southeast Asia's oceans possess… Read more

Three early-stage enterprises from Laos, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines will present their community-driven, climate-smart agriculture solutions at the SAFE Impact Showcase on 3 October 2025. The event highlights how innovation at the grassroots level can build resilience against food insecurity and climate change in Southeast Asia. The showcase marks the culmination of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Acceleration Program, implemented by Villgro Philippines in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Over the past three months, the program has helped agritech and agri-enterprises refine business models, strengthen investment readiness… Read more

THE new 24 climate leaders from eight ASEANmember states will be designing their projects to have more community-wide impact. They graduated from the ASEAN Climate Leadership Program (ACLP) in Bangkok on June 15 after a six-month immersive training. The ACLP equips participants with the knowledge, skills and network necessary to drive sustainable change in their towns and cities. Supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Amsterdam Leadership Academy, it promotes transformational change and sustainable development across Southeast Asia. The graduates' projects showcased practical solutions… Read more