SEARCA in the News

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Six students from Nagasaki University visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 26 February 2026 as part of the Global Social Responsibility (GSR) Short-Term Study Program, aimed at deepening their understanding of Philippine business, culture, economy, and entrepreneurship. The students were accompanied by Asst. Prof. Bebio Vieira Amaro of Nagasaki University and Asst. Prof. Rei Chino Pua of the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (UPLB-DAME). Nagasaki University, a national institution in Japan, is recognized for its strong commitment to promoting… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reinforced its collaboration with Spain as it hosted the second installment of the Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on 19 March 2026, featuring two officials from the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines. The session brought together representatives from the Los Baños Science Community, academic institutions, and partner organizations to explore deeper cooperation in agriculture, education, and innovation. SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla underscored Spain's development priorities—ecological transition, sustainable growth, and community empowerment—and highlighted how both Spain and Southeast Asia serve as… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Ten Development Communication and Communication students from Ateneo de Naga University visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 6 March 2026 to learn how effective communication drives agricultural development across the region. During the learning visit, Ms. Zara Mae Estareja, SEARCA Senior Associate for Public Relations, briefed the students on the Center's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia). She explained how SEARCA advances agricultural innovation through its 4Ps framework: boosting farmer incomes (Pocket), enhancing food security (Plate)… Read more

In early February 2026, 475 students from across Southeast Asia arrived in Penang, Malaysia, with one shared goal: to show that young people can solve real problems. Over four days, they did exactly that. The 14th Regional Congress of the Search for SEAMEO Young Scientists (SSYS), held from 9 to 12 February, brought together student researchers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Guided by 127 teacher advisors, they presented 174 projects on some of the region's most urgent challenges — from water scarcity and climate change to food security and clean energy. Organised… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) are set to host the CBSUA-SEARCA Joint International Conference 2026 on March 18-21 in Camarines Sur. Through the 7th International Conference on Education, Environment and Agriculture and the 4th International Conference on School-plus-Home Gardens and Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise, the conference will bring together global and regional experts to advance sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient agri-food systems across Southeast Asia. SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said the conference is expected to "contribute significantly to the development of policy pathways… Read more

Under the guiding theme "Farm. Farmer. Future.", AGRITECHNICA ASIA and HortEx will take place from 20 to 22 May 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). Over three days, agricultural practitioners and experts from across Asia and worldwide will meet to advance business development, technology transfer, and applied knowledge in agricultural mechanization and horticulture. The 2026 edition places a strong emphasis on capacity‑building, and practical adoption of innovations tailored to Asia's diverse production systems. Backed by strong institutional partners, the exhibitions are organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and… Read more

PASIG CITY, Philippines—Consolidation is emerging as a key strategy to strengthen Philippine agriculture and empower smallholders. This was the central message of the Food and Agribusiness Forum: Harnessing Economies of Scale: Consolidation Pathways for Philippine Food and Agribusiness, convened by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 30 January 2026 at the UA&P. The forum convened 82 stakeholders from government, academe, agribusiness, cooperatives, farmers' groups, and development organizations to explore practical models for integrating value chains, reducing farm fragmentation, and scaling inclusive agribusiness. In… Read more

AGRITECHNICA ASIA ซึ่งจัดร่วมกับ HortEx จะนำชุมชนเกษตรกรรมนานาชาติมารวมตัวกันอีกครั้งที่ BITEC กรุงเทพมหานคร โดยยืนยันบทบาทในฐานะศูนย์กลางการพัฒนาธุรกิจ การถ่ายทอดเทคโนโลยี และการแลกเปลี่ยนองค์ความรู้ประยุกต์ด้านเครื่องจักรกลการเกษตรและพืชสวนในภูมิภาคเอเชีย งานนี้จัดโดย German Agricultural Society (DLG) ร่วมกับกระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์ของไทย (MOAC) โดยมีประเทศเยอรมนีเป็นประเทศพันธมิตรอย่างเป็นทางการซึ่งเป็นตัวแทนโดย Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Regional Identity (BMLEH) คาดว่างาน AGRITECHNICA ASIA และ HortEx 2026 จะต้อนรับผู้เข้าชมเชิงวิชาชีพกว่า 18,000 คนจากมากกว่า 75 ประเทศ โดยมีผู้แสดงสินค้ากว่า 350 ราย พร้อมโปรแกรมการประชุมและองค์ความรู้ครอบคลุมกับวิทยากรนานาชาติและเซสชันวิชาการกว่า 100 รายการ… Read more

In Ben Bova's intriguing novel, Multiple Man (1976), several identical copies of the American president are discovered deceased, raising the question of whether a clone or the genuine individual occupies the Oval Office. Although it is a work of fiction, recent advancements in science and engineering have made it feasible to create an exact replica of the original – at least in the realm of livestock. This was exemplified by Dolly, the sheep. "The process calls for single cells to be separated from a growing calf embryo," wrote J. Madeleine Nash in an article which was published by Time. Each… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) awarded Dr. Hershey Mondejar the full training grant, covering online modules and in-person attendance at the 2026 Executive Program for Leaders in Asian Agriculture and Development in Singapore from February 23-27. Dr. Mondejar, who went through a highly selective process, secured her place with "Futuring Project" which channelizes agrifood insights into actionable initiatives for CTU Barili, where she has served as a tenured professor. Her participation at the international forum demonstrates the university's research-driven approach to supporting Southeast Asia's food security initiatives. Founded in 1966, SEARCA is… Read more