SEARCA in the News

In a province slowly being overtaken by industrialization and urbanization, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) still believes feeding the people should remain a top priority. And in an effort to promote agriculture in Laguna province, SEARCA has tapped on schoolteachers who in turn - or so the institute hopes - will pass on their skills and knowledge to a new generation. Through the "In-Country Training on Urban Farming for Sustainable Cultivation to Support Biodiversity Conservation, Education, and Food Security in the Philippines," program, SEARCA seeks to empower educators to establish science-based, environmentally… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said it is pioneering initiatives in smart agriculture, carbon neutrality, One Health, and biotechnology. Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia) "positions the center at the forefront of accelerating the transformation of regional agriculture from subsistence farming to modern, high-productivity enterprises by integrating science, policy, and practice." Sombilla showcased key programs under SEARCA, including the National Taiwan University-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program, which supports postgraduate studies in Global… Read more

IN the heart of Savannakhet, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root. A pioneering project is empowering local farmers to transform everyday farm waste into affordable, organic hydroponic nutrients, breaking barriers and boosting sustainability in the process. Backed by the Laguna, Philippines-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions or GRAINS grant, this initiative is a game-changer for a region where hydroponic farming was once dependent on costly imported solutions. Hydroponics, with its promise of water savings, higher yields, and faster… Read more

Kinilala ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) ang Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) bilang isa sa pinakamahusay na kontribyutor sa kanilang Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) database ngayong 2025. Ang parangal ay iginawad noong ika-25 anibersaryo ng SERP-P at Annual Networking Meeting sa Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay. Ito na ang ikaanim na pagkilala sa SEARCA mula 2018, at simula 2021 hanggang 2024, bilang isa sa pinaka-aktibong miyembro ng SERP-P network. Ayon kay G. Ezekiel Nicomedes, SERP-P Coordinator at Project Manager, "Patuloy na kinikilala ang SEARCA bilang isa sa pinaka-aktibo at… Read more

Ipinakilala ng Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) ang mga bagong panukala at programa upang itaguyod ang matalino, sustainable, at climate-resilient na agrikultura sa Timog-Silangang Asya, sa 2025 X Agriculture Forum na ginanap sa Taipei, Taiwan. Nanguna ang SEARCA sa pagpapakita ng mga future-focused na inisyatibo sa larangan ng smart agriculture, carbon neutrality, One Health, at biotechnology sa prestihiyosong 2025 X Agriculture Forum na idinaos sa National Taiwan University noong Disyembre 2, 2025. Sa pangunguna ni Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, inilahad ang ika-12 Five-Year Development Plan ng SEARCA na pinamagatang SUSTAIN Southeast Asia… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is advocating for a transformative shift toward circular agriculture systems, moving away from traditional linear and extractive models. SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said that circular agriculture offers practical solutions to pressing challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity. She highlighted key measures, including minimizing waste, regenerating ecosystems, and creating value from agricultural by-products like rice straw, livestock manure and crop residues. Despite existing financial, technical, supply chain, and socio-cultural barriers, Sombilla pointed to positive developments in the region, such as the… Read more

MANILA, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has launched its latest five-year development plan, aiming to modernize farming across Southeast Asia and boost productivity through innovation and sustainable practices. In a statement yesterday, the Philippine-based research center said the plan, called Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia or SUSTAIN Southeast Asia, will combine research, policy guidance and practical solutions to help farmers adopt technology-driven approaches and climate-resilient techniques. "Together with our partners, SEARCA is helping to drive Southeast Asia's transformation toward smart, sustainable, climate-resilient and innovation-driven agricultural… Read more

Graduate study abroad offers the chance to deepen academic expertise, participate in global research, and build networks that can shape your future career. Yet access often depends on affordability, regional connectivity, and the availability of clear pathways into strong research universities. In Taiwan, National Taiwan University (NTU) has been steadily expanding these pathways — combining major new scholarships with long-term regional partnerships to attract and support outstanding students, particularly from across Southeast Asia. Taiwan's rising appeal to international students Recent reporting from Taiwan's Ministry of Education shows that the country hosts over 63,000 degree-seeking international students, with Vietnam and Indonesia… Read more

TAIPEI, Taiwan—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), led by Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, highlighted its pioneering initiatives in smart agriculture, carbon neutrality, One Health, and biotechnology at the 2025 X Agriculture Forum. The prestigious event was held on 2 December 2025 and hosted by the National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Bioresources and Agriculture. During the forum, Dr. Sombilla presented SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). This plan positions SEARCA at the forefront of accelerating the transformation of regional agriculture… Read more

PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has recognized the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) as one of the top contributors to its Socioeconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) database in 2025. PIDS is the Philippine government's primary socioeconomic policy think tank, and the SERP-P database is an online resource containing studies and materials from PIDS and other academic and research institutions. Ms. Bernice Anne De Torres of SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD) and Mr. Stoix Nebin Pascua of SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department –… Read more