SEARCA in the News

JAYMARK Warren Dia, unit head for Management Information Systems at the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to digital innovation. Dia received the prestigious Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Service Award 2024/2025 for his remarkable work in modernizing SEARCA's IT infrastructure and services. It was on July 1, 2025 during the 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference at the Empire Hotel in Brunei Darussalam when Dia was recognized for his outstanding service, innovation and unwavering commitment to SEARCA over the past two decades. A University of… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — In a seminar held on 20 August 2025, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) highlighted the pressing need for coastal communities in Southeast Asia to be integrated into national and local development strategies through the blue economy. This event, part of the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS), featured Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan-Lagman from De La Salle University (DLSU), who presented her 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… Read more

The second phase of the Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration (ATMI-II) initiative was officially launched in Jakarta on 4–5 August 2025, marking an important step forward in strengthening inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agri-food systems across Southeast and South Asia. Convened by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the event brought together over 30 senior representatives from governments, regional bodies, think tanks, and research… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines—A group of 14 undergraduate students from Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI), accompanied by faculty from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on August 19, 2025. The visit, part of the 35th batch of Tokyo NODAI's Philippine Field Practice, focused on exploring SEARCA's work in agribusiness development. Prof. Dr. Nina Nocon-Shimoguchi highlighted the long-standing collaboration between Tokyo NODAI and SEARCA, noting that SEARCA has been an integral part of the Philippine Field Practice for its entire 26-year history. Tokyo NODAI is… Read more

IN a step that could transform food systems in Southeast Asia and beyond, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in launching a new regional initiative. The "Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries (ATMI-II)" is an initiative that aims to help ASEAN member-countries design and implement policies that build inclusive, climate-resilient, and market-integrated food systems. Key objectives of the initiative include inclusive growth by… Read more

When people think of agriculture, they often picture farms and fishers—the fields, the waters, the harvests. What we rarely see are the stories in between—the people and processes that bring food from its source all the way to the plate. From sorting and packaging to transport, trading, and selling, these steps are just as vital in making sure food is safe, fresh, and nourishing for everyone. Themed "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest turns the spotlight on these "in-between" journeys—those overlooked moments that connect producers with markets, communities, and consumers… Read more

MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—Twenty-six graduate students from across Southeast Asia, Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey recently engaged in a 12-day program at a university and two provinces in Central Luzon for an intensive academic and field-based project. The the graduate students participated in the ninth University Consortium Summer School (UC SS) hosted by Central Luzon State University (CLSU), in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC), said SEARCA in a news release. With the theme "Ridge to Reef: Integrated… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) here is offering full scholarships for Master's and PhD programs in agriculture for the academic year 2026-2027. The scholarships are open to nationals of 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. With regional priorities, the scholarship program aligns with SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan, focusing on critical areas such as increasing farmers' income, improving food security and nutrition, enhancing climate resilience of agricultural systems, and empowering agricultural stakeholders. SEARCA said… Read more

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — As the provincial government of Quezon was honored as the "Outstanding Provincial LGU for the 2025 Bayaniyugan Award," Governor Angelina Helen Tan declared her administration's continued commitment to uplifting the province's coconut farmers. This recognition reaffirms the province's reputation as a leader in the coconut industry, which it has long held as the country's top coconut producer. Quezon province was singled out for this award due to its critical role as the Philippines' top coconut industry. With over 47% of its total land area dedicated to coconut farms, the province produces more than 1.4 million metric… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — To gain insights into the latest agricultural initiatives, a group of 70 aspiring agriculturists from across the Philippines visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Aug. 28, 2025. Representing various universities from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the visiting students are preparing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists through the Upstep Review Center. SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, Associate Professor Joselito Florendo, welcomed the group, underscoring the vital role of agriculturists in the Philippines. Florendo emphasized that the "licensure examination is not just a requirement but also an… Read more