The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1966 primarily “to provide to the participating countries high quality graduate study in agriculture; promote, undertake, and coordinate research programs related to the needs and problems of the Southeast Asian region; and disseminate the findings of agricultural research and experimentation.”
In 21st century, Southeast Asia faces multiple challenges of rural poverty and food insecurity, rising energy and food prices, growth of agro-fuels production, biosafety and biotechnology, and the emergence of new value chains and the increasing integration of traditional ones amidst globalization and global policy shifts on one hand, and dwindling natural resources, biodiversity management, and changing climate on the other.