SEARCA in the News

THE Philippines generates annually least 13 million tons of dayami (rice straw), a valuable biomass resource that can be converted into soil amendments, food or feed inputs and bioenergy. To translate this potential into socioeconomic opportunities while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the pioneering Dayami Hub concept was introduced by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) during the Agrifuture Conference and Exhibition 2025 on Sept. 23-24. Lichelle Dara Carlos, SEARCA's Emerging Innovation for Growth Department program specialist, presented the Dayami Hub as a national strategy to address rice straw burning, mitigate GHG emissions… Read more

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

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—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… Read more

A NEW study highlights the importance of strengthening nutrition literacy and agricultural life skills in the education of Filipino youth. "Our youth today will be the future experts and leaders... and will have an important role in ensuring that the quality of food from our agriculture sector is able to impact nutrition," said nutritionist-dietician Ma. Cristina Sison, the co-author of the study titled "Youth Engagement in Transforming the Food System to Address Malnutrition in the Philippines." "Unless more young people pursue careers or vocations in agriculture, the food system's human resources may be at risk," she added. The study also… Read more

The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Claveria, Misamis Oriental (USTP Claveria) continues to strengthen its commitment to agricultural education and rural development as its Sumilao Extension Class received a donation of academic resources from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on October 13, 2025. The initiative supports USTP Claveria's ongoing efforts to advance learning and innovation in agriculture across Bukidnon. Established in 1966 under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), SEARCA is a non-profit regional center dedicated to promoting agricultural education, research, and rural development in Southeast… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Nagoya University (NU) forged an agreement on Oct. 13, 2025 to launch the NU-SEARCA Joint Transnational PhD Scholarship for Philippine Nationals. At the signing, NU was represented by Yamauchi Akira, director of the Asian Satellite Campuses Institute (ASCI) and Asia Collaborative Development Department (ACDD), Global Multi-Campus Institute, while SEARCA was represented by Director Mercedita Sombilla. Reviving ties established in 1986, the partnership empowers Filipino working professionals to pursue doctoral studies in critical fields like engineering, agriculture, international development, and environmental studies —… Read more

Makassar, 30 Oktober 2025 – Petani tak selamanya ada di ladang, begitu pula professor tak selalu mengajar di ruang kuliah. Keduanya bisa saling belajar di lapangan, pada sesi "Farmers Go to Campus" dalam ajang the 5th FSSAT (Food Security Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics) di Universitas Hassanuddin (UNHAS), Makassar. Bertempat di Fakultas Pertanian UNHAS berlangsung pertemuan international tahunan yang mempertemukan sejumlah pakar dan akademisi di bidang pertanian. Sebanyak 7 perwakilan negara, yakni Indonesia, Perancis, Saudi Arabia, Jerman, Taiwan, Inggris dan Sri Lanka hadir dalam acara yang berlangsung 29-30 Oktober 2025. Beragam tema dibahas, seperti keanekaragaman hayati, pertanian regeneratif, digitalisasi pertanian… Read more

The SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 is now accepting entries. This year's theme highlights the crucial stages of agriculture after the harvest. The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2025. Organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the contest aims to showcase the unseen people and processes that bring food to our tables. It moves beyond traditional farm imagery to tell a more complete story. Beyond the Harvest: A New Visual Narrative The theme, "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," seeks to illuminate the entire food journey. This includes… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) introduced its pioneering Dayami Hub concept under the Rice Straw Biogas Hub project during the Agrifuture Conference and Exhibition 2025, held in Bangkok on 23–24 September 2025. The event, organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG Asia Pacific), brought together over 300 participants from government agencies, private enterprises, innovation entities, and sustainability groups from more than 20 countries across Southeast Asia and beyond. With the theme "Clean Practices and Green Innovations for a Sustainable Agri-Food System," the conference highlighted efforts toward sustainable and environmentally… Read more

MANILA, Philippines — On October 14, 2025, key stakeholders in science, regulation, and media gathered for a forum at the Century Park Hotel, Manila, jointly organized by Science Communicators Philippines (SciCommPH), CropLife Philippines, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). This event aimed to foster dialogue on biotechnology research, regulation, and adoption in the Philippines. In her welcome message, Dr. Ruby Roan Cristobal, President of SciCommPH, highlighted biotechnology's vital role in food security, public health, and climate resilience. She called on media professionals to strengthen science reporting and utilize credible sources to inform… Read more