THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) created a new chapter in their 40-year relationship through a virtual signing of an agreement expanding their cooperation.
Signed on May 29, 2026, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in academic, educational, and research initiatives to drive sustainable innovation in agriculture and fisheries across Southeast Asia.
The agreement outlines joint research projects, scholarships, training programs, and the exchange of information and scientific materials. It aligns the partnership with Searca’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan, Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (Sustain Southeast Asia).
Searca said the alignment reflects a shared focus on linking science to practical solutions for farmers, fishers, and communities.
Searca Center Director Mercedita Sombilla and UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano signed the agreement, with Searca Deputy Director for Administration Rico Ancog and UPV Graduate School Dean Rodelio Subade joining the ceremony.
Subade said the partnership grew from recent academic exchanges and benchmarking discussions that showed opportunities for mutual learning and sustained cooperation. He expressed optimism that the MOU would lead to joint initiatives and knowledge-sharing.
Camposano emphasized the role of institutional partnerships in addressing sustainability challenges. The UPV chancellor said advancing sustainability requires long-term, research-driven efforts, and the capacity of institutions to generate knowledge and translate it into action.
Camposano also said the collaboration’s relevance to UPV’s strategic direction in fisheries and the blue economy.
Complementary strengths
Sombilla described the agreement as a reaffirmation of Searca and UPV’s 40-year relationship. She highlighted their complementary strengths: Searca’s regional mandate in agriculture, and UPV’s leadership in fisheries, marine science, and coastal management. These strengths, she said, provide a foundation for interdisciplinary work that bridges land and sea systems.
She stressed the importance of linking science, policy, and practice to deliver evidence-based solutions for Southeast Asian communities.
Sombilla cited climate change, declining fish stocks, and environmental degradation as challenges shaping the partnership’s direction.
Regional context and ongoing work
The agreement builds on Searca and UPV’s existing collaboration under the Asean Partnership for Sustainable Aquaculture (AquAsean), led by the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. Through AquAsean, both institutions already cooperate on aquaculture and fisheries while supporting graduate training and research exchange.
The new agreement is expected to expand regional cooperation, research, scholarships, and innovation initiatives. The stated goal is to translate science into practical solutions that reach farmers, fishers, and communities in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.
Ancog said the agreement marks the start of a deeper, more dynamic collaboration. He expressed confidence that it will create opportunities for students, researchers, and practitioners while strengthening regional cooperation and delivering tangible impact.
