SEARCA in the News

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

IN a world grappling with the fallout of conventional farming — deteriorating soils, drowning biodiversity and a changing climate — the call for a transformative shift has never been louder. One proposal, that "regenerative agriculture is the key to securing food and restoring our environment," comes from Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Center Director Mercedita Sombilla. During the 5th International Conference on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics, held on Oct. 29 at Hasanuddin University in Makassar, Indonesia, Sombilla first painted a stark picture of the costs of business-as-usual farming: depleted… Read more

Thirty-one higher education leaders from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have successfully completed the 7th Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions in Southeast Asia (LDP-HEIs in SEA). The hybrid program, organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), The HEAD Foundation, and IPB University, was designed to strengthen leadership capacities in universities across the region. Conducted from 23 September to 18 November 2025, the three-month program comprised five online sessions and a three-day onsite segment at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia. Participants included deputy heads, program coordinators, associate/assistant/vice deans… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Rico Ancog as its new Deputy Director for Administration, effective 1 December 2025. Ancog is a highly awarded academic leader and a distinguished researcher. He currently serves as Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and is a recognized UP Scientist. His leadership roles include serving as Dean of the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) from 2021 to 2025. Ancog is no stranger to SEARCA. He has steadily advanced… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) announces the opening of applications for the 2026 edition of the Executive Program for Leaders in Asian Agriculture and Development (LAAD): Focus on Southeast Asia. This hybrid program, which incorporates both online and in-person sessions, is designed to strengthen leadership and innovation capacities among professionals operating within the rapidly changing agrifood landscape of the region. LAAD is tailored for leaders working in government agencies, private agrifood enterprises, academia, civil society, and development organizations. The curriculum offers comprehensive modules on contemporary agrifood system issues… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Thirty teaching and non-teaching personnel from the Department of Education in Laguna (DepEd Laguna) have completed a transformative in-country training focused on urban farming for sustainable cultivation, biodiversity conservation, education, and food security. The two-day event, held on 29-30 October 2025 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), equipped participants with practical skills and ecological knowledge for greener communities. The initiative, titled "In-Country Training on Urban Farming for Sustainable Cultivation to Support Biodiversity Conservation, Education, and Food Security in the… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — In a study titled "Insights into the Structural Challenges of Philippine Agricultural Transformation through Analysis of Production Growth Trends," the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) underscored its dedication to regional cooperation and progressive policy formulation in agricultural and rural development. SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said that the study used data from the Philippine Statistics Authority spanning 2000–2024 which focused on rice and corn, two staple crops that keep the structural health of Philippine agriculture. Sombilla noted that the study's findings indicated that initial production gains, supported by technology… Read more