In a major address at the 2025 X Agriculture Forum, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) laid out a comprehensive roadmap to modernize and future-proof the region’s agricultural sector. Held at the National Taiwan University on 2 December 2025, the forum served as a critical platform for SEARCA, under the leadership of Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, to announce its forward-looking initiatives and strategic partnerships.
The centerpiece of the presentation was the launch of SEARCA’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan, titled “Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia).” This ambitious plan aims to accelerate the shift from subsistence farming to high-productivity, modern agricultural enterprises by integrating science, policy, and on-the-ground practice.
Dr. Sombilla detailed several key programs underpinning this transformation. These include the NTU-SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program for advanced studies in critical fields and the Rice Straw Biogas Hub in the Philippines—a climate-mitigation project converting agricultural waste into biochar, compost, and clean energy.
Emphasizing capacity building, Dr. Sombilla announced upcoming training in digital agriculture and precision farming. She also highlighted flagship educational initiatives like the Erasmus+-funded Postgraduate Micro-Credentials in Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC), designed to upskill the regional workforce through flexible digital learning.
Collaborative international projects formed another pillar of the presentation. SEARCA’s work with the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD) includes AquASEAN, promoting sustainable aquaculture through circular economy principles, and the ASEACA project to strengthen One Health strategies. Further efforts in biotechnology are focused on improving regional biosafety governance.
Funding innovation remains a priority, as evidenced by SEARCA’s Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions, supporting breakthroughs in digital agriculture, biotechnology, and waste decarbonization.
“Together with our partners, SEARCA is helping to drive Southeast Asia’s transformation towards smart, sustainable, climate-resilient, and innovation-driven agricultural systems,” stated Dr. Sombilla. “By bringing together science, policy, and practice, we are empowering communities, strengthening governance, and shaping a future of resilience and prosperity.”
The 2025 X Agriculture Forum, focusing on smart agriculture, carbon neutrality, One Health, and biotechnology, also acted as a preparatory meeting for the upcoming 2026 Agriculture Summit. It provided SEARCA a vital venue to share best practices, forge alliances, and align with emerging trends in global agriculture.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is a non-profit organization established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). For over five decades, it has worked to strengthen institutional capacity in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through graduate education, research, and knowledge exchange.#
