The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) have signed a partnership to strengthen tropical fruit production in the region. The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on February 12, aims to promote research, education, innovation, and capacity-building across Southeast Asia and other tropical fruit-producing areas.
Under the MOU, both organizations will collaborate on projects that tackle challenges in agricultural systems and the tropical fruit value chain. Initiatives will include joint research, knowledge sharing, youth engagement, and multi-country programs supporting farmers, researchers, and industry partners.
The partnership is expected to boost innovation, food security, and the competitiveness of the tropical fruit sector, while improving livelihoods in rural communities. By expanding research and education programs, it also aims to create more resilient agricultural systems and ensure smallholder farmers benefit from new opportunities.
Searca, based in Laguna, Philippines, focuses on agricultural education, research, and training, while TFNet, established under the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), promotes sustainable tropical fruit production, trade, and consumption globally.
The Philippines is a key beneficiary of this collaboration, currently ranking as the world’s second-largest exporter of bananas and pineapples as of the end of 2025, according to the FAO.
