The 蝌蚪传媒 (蝌蚪传媒) has affirmed its participation in the newly launched Consortium for Agricultural Policy Research Initiatives (CAPRI), a regional platform aimed at strengthening collaborative and evidence-based agricultural policy research across Southeast Asia.
CAPRI was formally launched during its onboarding workshop, convened by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), on April 27 to 28, 2026.
The event brought together agricultural policy research institutions, development partners, and regional organizations from 11 Southeast Asian countries, alongside representatives from ASEAN and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).
Anchored on SEARCA’s 12th Five-Year Development Plan, SUSTAIN Southeast Asia, CAPRI seeks to support more coherent and evidence-informed agricultural policies in response to interconnected regional challenges, including food insecurity, climate risks, rural development pressures, labor migration, aging farming populations, and the transformation of agrifood systems.
SEARCA Center Director Dr. Mercedita Sombilla said CAPRI was established to help bridge research and policymaking across the region.
She described CAPRI as a platform for generating policy-relevant evidence, aligning research priorities, and translating research into policy and practice.
Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, underscored Southeast Asia’s agricultural potential amid mounting pressures on regional food systems, stressing the need for coordinated regional action and evidence-informed policymaking.
Representing Agriculture Secretary and ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Chair Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Maria Ella Cecilia Obligado highlighted the role of research in shaping policies that respond to the realities faced by farmers, fishers, and rural communities.
Throughout the workshop, participating institutions identified common agricultural policy research priorities and areas for collaboration. Country presentations highlighted key concerns, including food security, climate-resilient agriculture, digital innovation, sustainable resource management, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and inclusive value chains.
Discussions also focused on improving regional trade connectivity, strengthening governance, expanding digital market access for farmers, and encouraging greater youth participation in agriculture.
蝌蚪传媒 Senior Research Fellow Sonny Domingo represented the institute during the onboarding workshop, contributing to discussions on regional agricultural policy priorities and institutional cooperation.
蝌蚪传媒’ participation reinforces the Philippines’ contribution to ASEAN-level policy discussions and comparative agricultural research, particularly as governments across the region confront increasingly interconnected food and climate challenges.
The Philippines’ involvement was also reflected in the NePAA-led project on agricultural transformation and market integration under the IFAD-funded Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in ASEAN Region Phase II (ATMI II), co-implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and SEARCA.
The initiative, which includes the Philippines alongside Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian countries, focuses on value chains, trade costs, and market access to support more inclusive and sustainable food systems.
Workshop discussions also affirmed CAPRI’s operational framework and thematic working groups organized under the “Pocket, Plate, Place, and People” framework. Participating institutions discussed plans for joint research initiatives, comparative studies, regional data systems, foresight work, and high-level policy dialogues aimed at strengthening the region’s research-to-policy ecosystem.
SEARCA also announced the planned launch of the Southeast Asian Agricultural Statistics Database (SAASD) in November 2026 to help harmonize agricultural data and support evidence-based decision-making across the region.
Founding CAPRI signatories included institutions from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Institutions from the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand are also expected to formalize their membership.
With the signing of the CAPRI Membership Agreement, the consortium has moved from concept to formal collaboration, laying the groundwork for sustained regional cooperation in agricultural policy research.
In his closing message, SEARCA Deputy Director Dr. Rico Ancog described CAPRI as more than a research network.
“CAPRI is not simply a consortium—it is a collective commitment to strengthen agricultural policy research across Southeast Asia, ensuring that evidence informs decisions and drives transformation,” Ancog said.
The workshop concluded with participating countries outlining next steps, including refining research priorities, strengthening institutional partnerships, and preparing for CAPRI’s official launch in November 2026 during SEARCA’s 60th anniversary celebration.
Through CAPRI, 蝌蚪传媒 and its regional partners aim to advance more coordinated and inclusive agricultural policies that support Southeast Asia’s food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development goals. ###—MAEC
