SEARCA in the News

(Second of Three Parts) Fish, like rice, is the staple food of Filipinos. As a matter of fact, fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of almost all Filipinos. Give man a fish, so goes a very popular Chinese saying, and he will eat fish for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will fish for his lifetime. However, if we don't watch out, this adage may soon become obsolete. Similar to other essential resources, the fisheries in the Philippines are on the brink of collapse, suffering from the relentless "plunder of the commons." The term… Read more

(First of Three Parts) Famine, characterized by a widespread lack of food resulting in severe and prolonged hunger among a large segment of the population, has occurred in the past, even during biblical times. The Holy Bible, in Genesis 55-57, recorded it: "So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.' When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold them to the… Read more

THE University of Asia and the Pacific's (UA&P) Center for Food and Agri Business, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will convene the Food and Agribusiness Forum at PLDT Hall, Pasig City, on Friday, Jan. 30. Titled "Harnessing Economies of Scale: Consolidation Pathways for Philippine Food and Agribusiness," the event will bring together agribusiness executives, policymakers, farmer group leaders, researchers and development agencies to chart a collective response to the country's deepening farm-size fragmentation. SEARCA Director Mercedita Sombilla said the forum's core purpose is to raise awareness of consolidation's strategic value, showcase… Read more

One on One: Reflections on Change and Impact A One-on-One with CPAf's 2025 Student Excellence Awardee (Page 3) When I hear about change, the quote "change is the only constant in life" comes up. Yes, it is constant, but it is not always intentional. When we let life be, it is a beautiful thing. And, when we lead an intentional life, it can be quite powerful. CPAf's 2025 Student Excellence Awardee, Zara Mae C. Estareja, also known as Zamae, made a big change that led to a positive impact not only in her life but also in her community. So… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Two papers published in the December 2025 issue (Volume 22, Issue No. 2) of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) sheds light on the challenges faced by agencies with mandates on agriculture on delivering solutions to rice farmers, and the need for them to adopt measures to deal with climate change. AJAD is a publication of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). SEARCA Director Mercedita Agcaoili Sombilla said the issue also highlights how farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and policymakers are responding to structural changes in agriculture and rural… Read more

Việt Nam đã đạt thành công ‘chưa từng có’, theo một nghiên cứu mới được công bố trên tạp chí Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) của Trung tâm Nghiên cứu và Học tập Sau đại học về Nông nghiệp khu vực Đông Nam Á (SEARCA) có trụ sở tại tỉnh Laguna, Philippines cho thấy. Nghiên cứu chỉ ra rằng trong khi lợi ích từ ACFTA phân bổ không đồng đều giữa các nước ASEAN, Việt Nam nổi lên với mức tăng trưởng thương mại nông nghiệp vượt trội, được mô tả là “chưa từng có”, cả trong nội khối ASEAN… Read more

Trong khi tổng kim ngạch thương mại giữa ASEAN và Trung Quốc đã tăng gấp 4 lần kể từ khi hiệp định ACFTA có hiệu lực vào năm 2004, thì thương mại hàng nông sản đã tăng gần 5 lần. Tờ Manila Times (Philippines) ngày 15/1 đưa tin, một nghiên cứu mới được công bố trên tạp chí Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) của Trung tâm Nghiên cứu và Học tập Sau đại học về Nông nghiệp khu vực Đông Nam Á (SEARCA) có trụ sở tại tỉnh Laguna, Philippines, cho thấy Hiệp định thương mại tự do ASEAN-Trung Quốc… Read more

Seven new studies published in the December 2025 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD)—a publication of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)—shed light on emerging trends that are reshaping agriculture across Asia. The papers tackle long-standing but rapidly evolving themes such as digitalization, gender inclusion, climate change adaptation, and data systems that are increasingly influencing agricultural policy and practice in the region. The issue underscores how farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and policymakers are responding to structural changes in agriculture and rural communities, and offers evidence-based recommendations for more inclusive and… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A new study published in the Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reveals that the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) has brought significant growth to regional trade, but its benefits for agriculture are unevenly distributed across Southeast Asian countries. The study titled "Trade Creation or Diversion? Assessing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement's Uneven Impact on ASEAN Agricultural Trade" stated that while total trade between member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China has increased four-fold since the ACFTA-Agreement on Trade… Read more

LOS BANOS, Laguna — A new issue of the Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) series from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) says the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) has significantly expanded regional commerce, but the agreement's benefits for agricultural trade have been uneven across Southeast Asian countries. In the ADN titled "Trade Creation or Diversion? Assessing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement's Uneven Impact on ASEAN Agricultural Trade," SEARCA said the analysis shows overall trade growth since the deal's goods provisions took effect, while warning that some member states have experienced trade diversion… Read more