SEARCA in the News

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Farmers, officials, scientists and advocates gathered to review the province's ban on genetically modified (GM) crops and what lifting it could mean for corn growers. The recent discussion, organized by the Provincial Agriculture Office of Oriental Mindoro, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Biotechnology Program Office, centered on policy, science and the realities of the field. Oriental Mindoro has enforced Provincial Ordinance 03-2024, the Environment Code and Ordinance 002-2007, barring the entry and propagation of GM organisms. Lily Mae Lim of the Provincial Government… Read more

BANGKOK — As Southeast Asia's agricultural sector confronts climate uncertainty, labor shortages and mounting pressure to improve productivity, a new generation of developers is looking to artificial intelligence (AI) for answers. That trend was on full display at the Agritechnica Asia Hackathon, held during the Agrinnovate Southeast Asia Summit 2026, where 47 participants from seven countries spent a day building AI-powered solutions designed to address real-world farming challenges. The event brought together students, engineers, programmers and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam to develop technologies that could help farmers make better decisions, improve… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is opening wider its doors for educators, researchers, and students seeking advanced training in agricultural and rural development across Southeast Asia. Through a suite of scholarships and grant programs, SEARCA is promoting global learning pathways designed to strengthen capacity and share knowledge across borders, according to SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla. Sombilla underscored that at the center of these opportunities are four key engagement tracks. These are full graduate scholarships for master's and doctoral study, PhD research scholarships for field-based inquiry, student mobility… Read more

THE ongoing Middle East conflict and the past El Niño are revealing anew the fragility of the current food system in Southeast Asia. And the worst is yet to come as the upcoming "super" El Niño is expected to present more challenges, while the effects of the Middle East conflict on the region's food production can last for at least a year or more. But the good news is there is an ongoing initiative across member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure the region's food security over the short to long term. I am referring… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recognized four teams with the SEARCA Agrinnovate Farmer-First Award at the Agritechnica Asia Hackathon, highlighting innovative AI-powered solutions designed to address real-world challenges in agriculture. The winning teams were selected from 47 registered contestants representing Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Following hackathon challenges held on 21 May 2026 and organized under four AI-enabled use cases, 15 innovators, mostly students, formed the winning teams. Their solutions showed strong potential to deliver meaningful benefits to farmers and agricultural enterprises. The Agritechnica… Read more

QUEZON CITY, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) participated in the "Borderless Pathways: Global Scholarships and Exchanges for Educators" held on 29 May 2026 at Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH). Organized by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), the event brought together DepEd alumni, international partners, and key stakeholders to serve as a one-stop platform connecting educators with scholarship and exchange opportunities worldwide. In a session in which DepEd's partner organizations delivered their respective scholarship pitches, SEARCA presented its suite of scholarship and… Read more

Researchers, graduate students, university staff, and development professionals across Southeast Asia now have an exciting opportunity to secure funding for academic travel through the SEARCA Travel Research Grant 2027. Designed to support knowledge sharing, professional development, and international collaboration, this grant provides financial assistance for qualified applicants who wish to participate in conferences, seminars, workshops, and other academic events related to agriculture, environment, rural development, and sustainable growth. For many scholars, this funding can be the key to presenting research findings, building international networks, and advancing academic careers. What Is the SEARCA Travel Research Grant? The Southeast Asian Regional Center… Read more

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026 The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Travel Grants support Southeast Asian professionals, researchers, social scientists, and graduate students who wish to present papers or participate in scientific conferences and forums. The grant provides up to USD 1,200 to cover travel, registration, accommodation, and related expenses, helping recipients share research, build professional networks, and contribute to the sustainable transformation of agricultural systems in Southeast Asia. The SEARCA Travel Grants Program is designed to support the participation of qualified Southeast Asian nationals in local and international scientific conferences, forums, and academic events. The… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted the fourth installment of its Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) featuring His Excellency Dr. Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines. The event underscored the critical intersection of science and diplomacy in driving sustainable development across Southeast Asia. Opening the session, SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla highlighted Vietnam's remarkable transformation from a nation once facing food security challenges into a global agricultural powerhouse. Sombilla noted that Vietnam is now the world's second-largest… Read more

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) participated in the "Borderless Pathways: Global Scholarships and Exchanges for Educators" held on 29 May 2026 at Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH). Organized by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), the event brought together DepEd alumni, international partners, and key stakeholders to serve as a one-stop platform connecting educators with scholarship and exchange opportunities worldwide. In a session in which DepEd's partner organizations delivered their respective scholarship pitches, SEARCA presented its suite of… Read more