SEARICE

06/08/2026

Our farmers deserve far more than words of appreciation. 🌾

As we celebrate Farmworker Appreciation Day, may we go beyond gratitude. May we stand in solidarity with farmers and recognize the invaluable work they do—work that too often remains unseen.

They breed resilient crop varieties.
They sustain farmer seed systems.
They conserve agricultural biodiversity.

Farmers deserve to live and work in a just and equitable system that enables them not only to survive, but to thrive.

Today and every day, let us honor and recognize the unsung heroes of our nation.

05/08/2026

Inclusive policy dialogue for the future of farmers' seed systems. 🌾

SEARICE participated in the public consultation on the Philippines' possible accession to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants 1991 (UPOV 1991) yesterday, August 4, 2026. The consultation workshop was organized by the Department of Agriculture, together with the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF).

The discussions on the country’s possible accession to the UPOV 1991 Convention come amid the increasing trade pressure to align with bilateral and multilateral agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

We thank Atty. Asis G. Perez, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations at the DA, for facilitating the consultation and for providing stakeholders the opportunity to engage in an open discussion on this important matter.

SEARICE will continue advocating for the protection of farmers' seed systems, agricultural biodiversity, and national policy space. International trade commitments shall not compromise smallholder farmers' livelihoods, food security, and the Philippines' national legal flexibility.

04/08/2026

The Philippines has legitimate national interests in protecting farmers' seed systems, agricultural biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and food security. While international trade agreements are important, these objectives should not require the country to adopt legal obligations that reduce its policy space beyond what international law requires.

Read full statement: https://www.searice.org.ph/post/free-trade-agreements-ftas-and-upov-1991-compliance-a-policy-re-evaluation

Protecting Philippine Agriculture While Pursuing Trade Agreements________________________________________________________________________The Philippines has legitimate national interests in protecting farmers' seed systems, agricultural biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and food security. While in...

31/07/2026

🌾Can agriculture become part of the solution to biodiversity loss?

As the Philippines advances the implementation of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2024-2040, agroecology continues to emerge as a practical pathway toward more resilient, biodiverse, and sustainable food systems.

This article looks back at the discussions during the PBSAP Dialogue and an engagement between the Agroecology Coalition and the Department of Agriculture, highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing agroecological transition in the country.

Read more:

Photo from: Department of Agriculture (DA)As biodiversity loss continues to threaten global food systems, the need to rethink how food is produced has become increasingly urgent. While agriculture is often identified as a contributor to climate change and environmental degradation, it is important t...

31/07/2026

Agroecology is more than a farming approach. It is a pathway toward resilient food systems, thriving biodiversity, and empowered communities.

Thank you to Mr. Oliver Oliveros of the Agroecology Coalition and Mr. Carl Vincent Gapasin of the Department of Agriculture - Philippines –Bureau of Plant Industry for enriching the dialogue with perspectives on agroecology and the ASEAN Agroecology Guidelines.

Their presentations contributed to the meaningful discussions on how agroecology can support the implementation of the PBSAP 2024-2040 and strengthen collaboration toward more sustainable food systems.

Read more: https://www.searice.org.ph/post/searice-and-partners-join-forces-to-strengthen-agroecology-implementation-in-the-philippines

Photo credits: SEARICE Communications team, Dr. Julian Gonsalves, and the Department of Agriculture

28/07/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 | 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

Last June 30–July 1, 2026, the dialogue workshop "𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘉𝘚𝘈𝘗 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 & 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘪-𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴-𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩", brought together government agencies, Indigenous Peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, civil society organizations, UN agencies, development partners, and technical experts at Summit Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City.

The workshop provided a platform to reaffirm a central message: biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable agri-food systems, and human rights cannot be addressed in isolation. Protecting biodiversity is not solely an environmental concern. It is also about ensuring food security, safeguarding livelihoods, recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and building resilience for present and future generations.

Throughout the workshop, participants emphasized that achieving the PBSAP requires breaking sectoral silos through stronger partnerships, more coherent policies, and sustained collaboration across institutions. Discussions also underscored the importance of agroecology, community-led conservation, indigenous knowledge systems, and meaningful participation in decision-making. While the Philippines has strong legal and policy foundations, translating these commitments into lasting impact will require greater accountability, adequate financing, and continued dialogue across all sectors.

From keynote presentations and panel discussions to participant dialogues, collaborative group work, and the Knowledge Café, the workshop generated practical recommendations for advancing an inclusive, rights-based, and transformative approach to biodiversity governance.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed their time, knowledge, and perspectives, including representatives from the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), Agroecology Coalition, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Climate Change Commission (CCC), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NICP), Philippines Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID), Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Coalition (IPBC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Bukluran ICCA Consortium, Mina de Oro PGS Association, Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG), Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), together with farmers, Indigenous Peoples, fisherfolk, civil society organizations, and other partners whose insights made the dialogue richer and more meaningful.

This dialogue workshop was organized by SwedBio, Tebtebba Foundation, SEARICE, and Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP). The conversations may have concluded, but the work continues. Turning dialogue into collective action will be key to realizing a more just, biodiverse, and resilient future for all.

25/07/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗣 | 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗳𝗲

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

Looking back at the two-day dialogue workshop, "Exploring Opportunities for Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) Implementation across Biodiversity, Climate & Sustainable Agri-food Systems with a Human Rights-Based Approach", held on June 30-July 1, 2026 at Summit Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay City.

One of the workshop's interactive sessions was the Knowledge Café, where farmers and Indigenous Peoples showcased products, traditional crops, local innovations, and community initiatives that embody the richness of the Philippines' biodiversity. Members of the organizing team also exhibited their advocacies, publications, and other knowledge products, creating a vibrant space for learning, exchange, and collaboration.

The Knowledge Café highlighted the important role of farmers and Indigenous Peoples as custodians of biodiversity. Every product and knowledge resource reflected the importance of conserving biodiversity while sustaining livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage, strengthening resilient agri-food systems, and advancing community-led solutions. The session also underscored how research, policy advocacy, and knowledge-sharing initiatives complement local action in achieving these goals.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘉𝘪𝘰, 𝘛𝘌𝘉𝘛𝘌𝘉𝘉𝘈 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘐𝘊𝘌, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 (𝘗𝘐𝘒𝘗). 𝘐𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬, 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘜𝘕 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴-𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘉𝘚𝘈𝘗 2024–2040.

19/07/2026

Who owns our seeds? And who gets to decide how farmers can save, share, and use them?

As negotiations on the EU–Philippines Free Trade Agreement continue, a proposed provision on plant variety protection could have far-reaching implications for farmers' rights, agricultural biodiversity, and the country's ability to shape its own seed policies.

In this Rappler article, "Urgent: Protecting Our Plant Variety," we invite readers to unpack why protecting farmers' rights must remain at the heart of any policy affecting seeds.

Read the full article: https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-urgent-protecting-plant-variety/

Seeds are not just commodities. They are the foundation of our food systems, our biodiversity, and the livelihoods of farming communities. Join the conversation and help amplify the call to protect farmers' rights!

The Philippines and other developing countries should not hand over their seed sovereignty in exchange for market access. Some doors are closed for a reason and in this case a good one.

18/07/2026

🌾 Damo nga salamat! 🌾

Our heartfelt gratitude to the 15 farmers' organizations who participated in the Farmers' Technical Conference under the "Engendering Access for Smallholder Farmers to Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Conservation and Sustainable Use" project, funded by the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (BSF-ITPGRFA).

Your enthusiasm, active participation, and willingness to learn and share made this gathering truly meaningful. Throughout the conference, you demonstrated that farmers are not just cultivators, they are innovators, breeders, and custodians of agricultural biodiversity. From sharing your experiences in farmer-led plant breeding to exchanging practical knowledge on seed saving, seed sharing, and the importance of Community Seed Registries, you showed that the knowledge and skills to strengthen our seed systems already exist within farming communities.

This conference reaffirmed that when farmers are given the opportunity to learn, experiment, and lead, they become even more empowered to shape the future of agriculture. Investing in farmers' knowledge means investing in resilient communities, stronger local seed systems, and food security for generations to come.

To our participating organizations:
🌱 Ballo Mainit Farmers Association (BMFA)
🌱 Camingawan Lumboy Pinamus-an Tamlang Farmers Association (CALPTFA)
🌱 Camingawan Rain-Fed Rice Clusters Farmers' Association (CARRCFA)
🌱 Camingawan Tagukon Farmers Association (CATAFA)
🌱 Hinawanan Matanguilon Lika Small Farmers Association (HIMALIKASFA)
🌱 Kristiyanong Mangunguma sa Cabugan (KMASCA)
🌱 Matanguilon Badiang Farmers Association (MABAFA)
🌱 Overseas Filipino Workers Association of Barangay Camingawan (OFWABACA)
🌱 Upper Ballo Integrated Small Farmers Association (UBISFA)
🌱 Tagukon Integrated Farmers Association (TIFA)
🌱 Purok Matanguilon Communal Irrigators Association Inc.
🌱 Tabunan Small Farmers and Irrigators Association (TSFIA)
🌱 Mailum Organic Village Association (MOVA)
🌱 Tabucol Farmers Association (TFA)
🌱 Mailum Minoyan United Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMUFAMPC)

Padayon! We hope you continue building on what you have started, strengthening farmer-led breeding, conserving and sharing seeds, and protecting our rich agricultural biodiversity within your communities.

Together, we move closer to a future where farmers around the world use and conserve locally adapted crop varieties, leading to improved productivity and incomes, greater access to diverse and nutritious food, healthier ecosystems, and farming communities that are more resilient to climate and production shocks.