manilatimes3d ago
THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) hosted the second installment of the Meet the Diplomat Series (MDS) on March 19, 2026, featuring officials from the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines. The event, held at Searca’s headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, 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 Mercedita Sombilla highlighted the alignment between Spain’s Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026-2029 and Searca’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan (Sustain Southeast Asia), particularly the center’s 4Ps framework: Pocket (farmer income), Plate (food security), Place (climate resilience) and People (next-generation empowerment). She emphasized Spain and Southeast Asia’s shared role as “bridge regions” linking major global blocs, and noted the potential for collaboration in areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and agri-food innovation. Economic and Commercial Counselor Silvia Torices de la Varga presented opportunities for expanded collaboration, citing Spain’s expertise in smart irrigation systems, water management, greenhouse technologies, and renewable energy applications. Acknowledging existing challenges such as accreditation bottlenecks and customs issues, Torices de la Varga pointed to “great promise” for expanded collaboration amid ongoing Philippine economic reforms and negotiations on the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement. She added that the Philippines is Spain’s second-largest export market in Southeast Asia, with agriculture accounting for a significant portion of bilateral trade, including pork, beef, pineapples, coconut oil, and canned products. Education Advisor Beatriz Jimeno Ortas highlighted Spain’s strong academic fields, including agricultural biotechnology, water management, biochemistry, and molecular biology, as well as scholarship opportunities for Filipino researchers and students. She emphasized the growing Philippine participation in the Erasmus+ Program and partnerships with leading Spanish universities, including Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universidad de Jaén, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. During the open forum, participants discussed trade, education pathways, research collaboration, and the Philippines’ potential as a hub for Spanish agribusiness within Southeast Asia. They also raised questions on the feasibility of part-time work and language preparation for students in Spain. The event concluded with the awarding of certificates and tokens to the Spanish diplomats, followed by a group photo with participants. Searca’s Meet the Diplomat Series aims to support its research, capacity-building, and innovation agenda while promoting inclusive, innovation-driven agricultural transformation across Southeast Asia and beyond. The collaboration between Spain and the Philippines is expected to contribute to the growth of the Philippine economy, particularly in the agriculture sector, and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global market. The partnership also aims to promote cultural exchange and understanding between the two countries and foster a community of scholars and researchers who can drive innovation and development in Southeast Asia.
