Deadline: November 30, 2025
The 19th SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 is now open for entries! This exciting competition, organised by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), invites photographers across Southeast Asia to capture the unseen journey of food — from harvest to plate.
If you are passionate about visual storytelling and agriculture, this contest is your chance to showcase how people, technology, and innovation shape the agricultural value chain.
Application Deadline
30 November 2025
Theme
“Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain”
The 19th SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 aims to go beyond the fields and farms — highlighting the often-overlooked steps that bring food to our tables. The focus is on the people and processes that make up the entire agricultural value chain, celebrating the human stories and innovative systems that sustain food security in Southeast Asia.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all nationals of Southeast Asian countries, except SEARCA staff and their immediate family members.
This includes participants from:
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.
Submission Requirements
Participants are required to submit digital, colour photographs in JPEG format.
Technical specifications:
- Minimum image size: 3,000 pixels wide (horizontal) or 3,000 pixels tall (vertical)
- Resolution: 300 dpi
- Entries must be original, high-quality, and relevant to the contest theme.
Prizes
Winners of the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 will receive the following cash awards and certificates:
- 🥇 First Prize: USD 1,000 + Certificate
- 🥈 Second Prize: USD 800 + Certificate
- 🥉 Third Prize: USD 500 + Certificate
- 🌟 SEARCA Centre Director’s Choice: USD 500 + Certificate
These prizes aim to reward creativity, originality, and the ability to communicate the essence of the agricultural value chain through powerful imagery.
What SEARCA is Looking For
The contest seeks photos that capture the “in-between” stages of agriculture, focusing on the systems, people, and innovations that bridge the gap between farms and consumers.
Potential subjects may include:
- Post-harvest care and sorting processes
- Drying, preservation, and food transformation
- Transport and logistics — from rural areas to urban markets
- Market and trade interactions
- Youth- and women-led value-adding enterprises
- Digital or technological tools connecting farmers and buyers
- Food cooperatives and community efforts
- Consumer interactions and sustainability initiatives
Entries should visually express the dynamic relationship between agriculture, innovation, and community within Southeast Asia.
Why You Should Participate
- It’s a regional platform to showcase your visual storytelling talent.
- The contest celebrates the full agricultural value chain, giving photographers creative freedom beyond traditional farming scenes.
- It provides international recognition and cash rewards for impactful work.
- Winning entries will contribute to regional conversations about food systems, sustainability, and agricultural transformation.
Important Notes
Before submitting your photo entry, make sure to:
- Verify your eligibility (Southeast Asian nationality required).
- Follow the photo specifications carefully.
- Review the usage rights and contest terms on SEARCA’s official website.
- Align your photo story with the contest’s theme and values.
How to Apply
Ready to showcase your creativity?
👉 Click here to Apply for the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest 2025
For additional information and full contest guidelines:
👉 Read more about the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 here
📞 Need Professional Support?
If you need help refining your contest entry or preparing related project proposals, contact us for proposal drafting, refining and review.
