SEARCA

11/10/2026

Don't miss 's special session on Promoting Innovation in Circular Aquaculture for Sustainable ASEAN Food Systems at the 14th International Fisheries Symposium (IFS) 2026, happening on 13-14 October 2026 in Iloilo, Philippines.

This session will bring together experts from SEARCA, CIRAD, the Asian Institute of Technology, Can Tho University, and the fisheries sector of Cambodia to explore circular aquaculture---from innovative production systems and waste reduction to policy, investment, partnerships, and scaling solutions across the region.

Discover how innovations such as integrated shrimp-fis-seaweed systems and the 3R Circular Aquaculture Model can help transform aquaculture and strengthen sustainable ASEAN food systems.

Visit https://ifs2026.upv.edu.ph/ to learn more.

10/10/2026

📸 PHOTO STORY:

Earlier today, joined regional leaders, policymakers, and private-sector champions at the ASEAN Food Security and Agribusiness Summit 2026 at Land Bank Plaza to advance collective action under ASEAN-BAC Philippines’ banner of “Prosperity for All.”

Highlighting SEARCA’s commitment to evidence-based agricultural transformation, Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla presented the ASEAN Food Security Policy Framework developed in coordination with ASEAN BAC Philippines and the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA).

Dr. Sombilla underscored that food security is central to ASEAN’s regional competitiveness and economic security. She emphasized that addressing modern food challenges goes beyond mere production; it demands affordable access to nutritious food through resilient, inclusive, and market-enabled systems. To bridge key investment and market gaps, she detailed four pathways for private sector engagement: productivity and innovation, market access, value chain infrastructure, and finance and technology.

More importantly, Dr. Sombilla championed inclusive business models powered by Public-Private-Producer-People Partnerships (5Ps). These models safeguard smallholder interests, strengthen farmer organizations, and de-risk agricultural value chains through fair contracts and shared value.

Through strong regional integration and inclusive private-sector partnerships, SEARCA continues to champion pathways that ensure prosperity reaches every farmer and community across Southeast Asia.

09/10/2026

joins the celebration of the 108th UPLB Loyalty Day: Ugnayang Alumni Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago at Kaunlaran! ✨🌱

University of the Philippines Los Baños has served as the host institution and home of SEARCA since its establishment in 1966.

The Loyalty Day activities will take place from 3 to 11 October. Celebrate with UPLB; visit https://oar.uplb.edu.ph/loyalty-day/2026/

---
Photo credit: Oblation by Jefferson Villacruz

09/10/2026

📸 PHOTO STORY:

participated in the 4th National Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Exhibition (NAFTE), held on 1-3 October 2026 at the Legazpi City Convention Center.

With the theme “Innovation in Action: Bridging Science, Industry and Communities for Scalable and Sustainable Agri-Fisheries Technologies,” the three-day event highlighted the role of research, innovation, and collaboration in advancing sustainable agriculture and fisheries development.

The exhibition brought together government agencies, research institutions, technology developers, and industry stakeholders to showcase innovative technologies, share practical solutions to improve agricultural productivity and food security, and promote sustainable farming and fisheries practices.

Through its institutional exhibit, SEARCA showcased its programs and initiatives on sustainable aquaculture innovation, notably the ASEAN Partnership for Sustainable Aquaculture (AquASEAN), with a focus on climate-responsible aquaculture, scholarships and training, regional collaboration, and policy support; and the Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS)-supported projects, specifically Universiti Putra Malaysia’s intelligent fish feeder, Indonesia-based Hasanuddin University’s AquaNotes for black tiger shrimp, and Philippine-based University of San Carlos’s chitosan-based bioplastic from shrimp waste. The exhibit also featured SEARCA publications and institutional collateral materials.

SEARCA’s participation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships, facilitating knowledge and technology transfer, and promoting science-based innovations that contribute to a more productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.

09/10/2026

Completing our lineup of speakers for the 2026 Conference on SUSTAINing Southeast Asia’s Agricultural Futures! 🧑🏻‍🌾👨🏻‍🎓🚜

Organized by in partnership with the Erasmus+ co-funded Postgraduate Micro-credentials for Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC) Project, the special session on The Future of Learning: Innovations in Education and Micro-Credentials in Southeast Asia will bring together education leaders and practitioners working on digital transformation, flexible learning, regional cooperation, and inclusive learning pathways.

🌱 Dr. Peter Sy, Vice President for Digital Transformation of the University of the Philippines System, leads efforts to integrate people, processes, and technologies across the University. His work advances ethical and inclusive digital transformation, lifelong learning, digital credentialing, and massive open online courses across Southeast Asia.
🌱 Dr. Dennis B. Batangan, Public Health Specialist, Research Program Director, and Research Scientist at the Ateneo de Manila University, brings together public health, community medicine, data and artificial intelligence, and social innovation. His work includes technology-supported initiatives that improve health services and learning in communities.
🌱 Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies at the UP Open University, has more than two decades of experience in social work, community development, and open and distance e-learning. Her work expands flexible and accessible learning opportunities for diverse learners through micro-credentials and lifelong learning.
🌱 Ms. Arie Susanty of the SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Center (SEAMOLEC) specializes in technology-enabled education, open and distance learning, teacher professional development, and inclusive learning pathways. Her work translates emerging technologies and education policies into practical models that widen access and strengthen teacher competencies.
🌱 Mr. Panupong Sriudom, Executive Assistant Officer for Programme Development at the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED), works on regional higher education policy, quality assurance, mobility, knowledge sharing, and cooperation across Southeast Asia.
🌱 Ms. Christelle Mae Agustin, Policy and Communications Officer at the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED), contributes to regional policy development, knowledge exchange, and higher education cooperation. Her current work explores regional approaches to micro-credentials and the development of a common definition for Southeast Asia.
🌱 Dr. Juan Robertino “Robbie” Macalde, Manager of the Learning Development and Management Office at the SEAMEO Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH), has more than 30 years of experience in education and development. He leads regional initiatives in teacher development, school leadership, educational technology, and flexible and online learning.

📌 Join us on 19-20 October 2026 at SEARCA, UPLB Campus, College, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines! For inquiries, contact [email protected] or visit the conference website: https://www.searca.org/2026-conference-sustaining-southeast-asia-agricultural-futures

08/10/2026

📰 | Sin Chew Daily

Sin Chew Daily, the largest-circulated Chinese-language daily in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, recently provided extensive coverage of ’s 74th Governing Board Meeting (GBM), co-organized with the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

Two articles highlighted the assembly of regional leaders to steer regional agricultural education and institutional policy, and the keynote address by Brunei's Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr. Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, who urged SEARCA to continue leveraging its role as a regional center of excellence by bridging policy, research, and grassroots innovation to address climate vulnerabilities, food security, and rural livelihoods across Southeast Asia.

08/10/2026

Spotlight 🌱 🇹🇭

Meet Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasong Tanpichai, recipient of the 2026 Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) Award for Teaching.

A proud alumnus who earned his PhD in Agricultural Education at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (1998), Dr. Prasong has dedicated more than three decades to transforming learners from passive recipients of knowledge into active problem-solvers through his pioneering Farm Praxis philosophy: learning, doing, reflecting, and sharing.

From establishing the Educational Farm at Kasetsart University - Kamphaeng Saen Campus as a living laboratory across the agricultural value chain, to partnering with rural communities to build community banks, enhance food safety, and champion sustainable livelihoods, his work proves that true education extends far beyond four walls. Today, his former students serve as faculty, researchers, and community leaders, carrying forward his commitment to service and innovation.

📖 Read his full story: https://www.searca.org/ossa/featured-stories -Prasong-Tanpichai

Photo credit: KU

08/10/2026

📸 PHOTO STORY:

The 39th Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC) Executive Board Meeting gathered university leaders and representatives from across Asia on 5-7 October 2026 at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia.

Hosted by IPB University, this year’s meeting was attended by 31 UC Executive Board members and nine other university officers and staff from 13 institutions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan. Participating institutions include regular UC members IPB University, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Universitas Brawijaya in Indonesia; Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia; Kasetsart University and Maejo University in Thailand; and Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Visayas State University, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños in the Philippines. Also joining the meeting were representatives from associate members Tokyo University of Agriculture and National Taiwan University, as well as affiliate member Mariano Marcos State University. , serving as the UC Secretariat, was represented by Center Director and UC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, who co-chaired the meeting together with the host university.

The three-day meeting provided a venue for UC members to review the Consortium’s programs and accomplishments, discuss institutional and regional priorities, and plan the direction of future collaborative initiatives in graduate education, research, and academic mobility. The 39th UCEBM also witnessed the conclusion of the 10th UC Summer School on AGROMARITIME: Integrated Land-Sea Systems for Sustainable Resource Management, hosted by IPB University from 22 September to 6 October 2026.

The closing ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize the participants’ learning experiences and accomplishments throughout the two-week program.

Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education

Photo credit: IPB University

07/10/2026

Catch the 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 tomorrow, 8 October 2026, at the UPLB Agricultural Genomics Research Center.

With the theme "Sustainable Agricultural Landscape: Sharing Experiences and Building Common Futures," the conference will bring together experts to discuss integrated and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable forest-agriculture landscapes across Southeast Asia.

Dr. Rico Ancog, Deputy Director for Administration, will serve as a speaker for Plenary 1: Agroecological innovation, farming practices, and digital tools.

See you there!

07/10/2026

Join key policymakers, industry leaders, and agricultural experts at the ASEAN Food Security and Agribusiness Summit 2026.

📅 10 October 2026
📍 LANDBANK Plaza, Malate, Manila, Philippines

Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director, will serve as a speaker and present the ASEAN Food Security Policy Framework, with a focus on “Strengthening Private Sector Engagement through Inclusive, Resilient, and Market-Enabled Food Systems.” Her presentation will highlight the role of private sector engagement in advancing inclusive and resilient food systems and strengthening market-based approaches to regional food security.

----
Seats are limited on-site, but you can join us online!
Please register here: https://bit.ly/OnlineRegistration-AgriSummit

The countdown is officially on for the ASEAN Food Security and Agribusiness Summit 2026.

Join key policymakers, industry leaders, and agricultural experts at this premier event. Together, we are bridging gaps, scaling innovation, and building a stronger, food-secure tomorrow.

📅 October 10, 2026
📍 LANDBANK Plaza, Malate, Manila

Seats are limited on-site, but you can join us online!
Please register here: https://bit.ly/OnlineRegistration-AgriSummit

Be part of the conversation shaping the future of agriculture.