SEARCA launches 60th anniversary with agricultural transformation agenda

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) launched its 60th anniversary celebration with a call for stronger research, education and regional cooperation to transform agriculture, improve rural livelihoods and strengthen food security across Southeast Asia.

The two-day conference, titled “SUSTAINing Southeast Asia’s Agricultural Futures,” gathered scholars, alumni, researchers, educators and development partners at SEARCA’s headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, on Oct. 19 and 20, 2026.

The event featured keynote addresses, plenary discussions, six parallel sessions with 43 research presenters, and two special sessions focused on educational innovation and micro-credentials.

The gathering highlighted the importance of translating scientific research and academic knowledge into practical solutions that benefit farmers, rural communities and agricultural institutions.

SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla commended the scholars and alumni whose contributions have advanced the center’s mission in public policy, higher education, research and rural development.

She emphasized that investing in education is also an investment in Southeast Asia’s future, particularly as the region faces increasingly complex agricultural and food security challenges.

Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, stressed that the true value of scholarships should be measured by their impact on society rather than academic qualifications alone.

She called for approaches that connect scientific innovation, inclusive policies and local knowledge to address challenges facing agricultural communities.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Asdi Agustar, president of the Regional SEARCA Alumni Association (RSAA), also emphasized the importance of people, social institutions and equity in ensuring sustainable agricultural development.

Research and education drive agricultural innovation

Keynote presentations examined how universities and research institutions can accelerate agricultural transformation through scientific research, collaboration and flexible learning systems.

Dr. Daniel Weary of the University of British Columbia in Canada drew on animal welfare research to demonstrate that scientific evidence alone does not necessarily lead to changes in farming practices.

He urged researchers to work directly with farmers to understand their circumstances, identify practical constraints and develop solutions suited to local conditions.

Weary also challenged universities to equip future agricultural leaders with the collaborative and leadership skills needed to address complex problems.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Saripan, deputy chief executive officer for quality assurance at the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, discussed Malaysia’s experience in developing micro-credentials as an alternative pathway for education and professional development.

Micro-credentials are shorter, focused learning programs that allow individuals to acquire specific competencies without necessarily completing an entire degree program.

Saripan explained that effective quality assurance systems could allow these learning units to be combined and recognized toward formal qualifications, expanding access to higher education and professional training.

Four priorities for sustainable agriculture

The conference’s six parallel sessions examined resilient smallholder enterprises, crop innovation, climate adaptation, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation and healthy food systems.

These discussions aligned with the four strategic outcomes of SEARCA’s Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia) agenda.

The first priority, Pocket, seeks to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen rural livelihoods.

Plate focuses on improving food security and nutrition, while Place emphasizes the resilience of agricultural systems against climate-related and environmental risks.

The fourth priority, People, aims to empower farmers, agricultural stakeholders and institutions through education, partnerships and capacity development.

Research presentations explored smallholder participation in Vietnam’s beef cattle supply chains, coffee farm mechanization in Cavite and the implementation of fishways to restore fish migration routes in Lao PDR.

Other studies examined how climate risks, financial incentives, agricultural management and watershed conditions influence rice production systems in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Researchers also presented findings on women’s empowerment in Indonesian agriculture and youth participation in organic agripreneurship in Benguet.

Additional presentations covered the use of environmental DNA for fisheries monitoring, wild food resources for food security in Ilocos Sur, rapid food safety testing technologies and livestock genetic conservation.

The diverse research topics demonstrated how agricultural innovation increasingly requires cooperation across scientific disciplines, institutions and national borders.

The conference also featured two special sessions organized in partnership with the European Union co-funded Postgraduate Micro-credentials for Food Security and Climate Change project under the Erasmus+ program.

The sessions explored regional cooperation in developing flexible and accessible educational pathways to equip professionals with the skills needed to address climate change and food security challenges.

Discussions also examined how universities and training institutions could recognize shorter learning programs as part of broader professional and academic qualifications.

From research to policy action

Opening the conference’s second day, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho Jr., the Philippines’ representative to the SEARCA Governing Board, emphasized the longstanding partnership between the two institutions.

He highlighted their shared role in developing agricultural scientists, researchers and leaders capable of responding to cross-border challenges involving climate change, food security and rural livelihoods.

The second day shifted attention toward translating research into policy action and community development.

The discussions featured three recipients of the 2026 Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) Awards: Dr. Asikin Yoeu of Cambodia, Dr. Weerapon Thongma of Thailand and Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan of the Philippines.

Yoeu, Cambodia’s undersecretary of state for international cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of conservation agriculture and stronger institutional support for smallholder farmers.

She urged policymakers to ensure that agricultural development programs reach farming communities, particularly women and other groups facing barriers to resources and opportunities.

Thongma, president of Maejo University in Thailand, highlighted the role of universities in building community capacities and promoting locally driven development.

Drawing on university-community partnerships and community-based tourism initiatives, he stressed that effective development requires understanding people’s experiences and involving them in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

Balisacan, secretary of the Philippine Department of Economy, Planning and Development, identified five major challenges that could shape Southeast Asia’s agricultural future.

These include climate change, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, the energy transition, and the need to expand opportunities for people.

A former SEARCA center director and scholarship alumnus, Balisacan emphasized that agricultural transformation should be assessed not only through technological advances and economic growth but also through its benefits to rural families and communities.

He encouraged researchers, policymakers and development practitioners to examine who benefits from development interventions, who bears the costs and whether proposed solutions address the actual needs of farmers.

The three speakers were formally recognized during the OSSA awarding ceremony on Oct. 20, alongside Dr. Prasong Tanpichai of Thailand, who received the award for his contributions to agricultural education.

The awards recognized outstanding SEARCA alumni whose work has advanced teaching, research, public service and community development.

Established on Nov. 27, 1966, under SEAMEO, SEARCA has spent six decades strengthening agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through graduate education, research, institutional development and regional partnerships.

As it enters its seventh decade, the center is placing greater emphasis on connecting scientific knowledge with practical policies and community-based solutions to build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable agricultural systems.

The conference reinforced the need for universities, governments, researchers and development organizations to work together to ensure that agricultural innovation delivers measurable improvements in farmers’ incomes, food security and rural livelihoods.

“The agricultural futures we seek will take shape through the research we undertake, the institutions we strengthen, and the opportunities we help others create,” Balisacan said.