The 20th SEARCA Photo Contest 2026 invites Southeast Asian photographers to submit entries themed "Food for All, Food for the Future." Prizes range from $500 to $1,000. Submissions are due by September 30, 2026.
By Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
The 20th SEARCA Photo Contest, organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), is now open for applications. This year's contest, themed "Food for All, Food for the Future," encourages photographers from Southeast Asia to capture images related to the people and systems involved in maintaining food security. The contest seeks to highlight how food is kept nourishing, safe, accessible, resilient, and prepared for future challenges. This milestone 20th edition aims to continue SEARCA's tradition of visual storytelling in agriculture and rural development, reflecting two decades of showcasing the labor, beauty, urgency, and hope within the agricultural sector across the region. Participants are asked to address a timely question: how can we ensure sufficient food for everyone today while simultaneously developing food systems that are sustainable and effective for tomorrow? The contest serves as a platform to visually explore and communicate these critical aspects of food production and distribution. Various cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the top entries, including a First Prize of $1,000 and a special SEARCA Center Director's Choice award.
Photographic entries that capture the people and systems involved in keeping food nourishing, safe, accessible, resilient, and ready for the future, aligned with the theme "Food for All, Food for the Future."
Open to all Southeast Asian nationals, except SEARCA staff and their immediate family members.