Entries open for SEARCA Photo Contest 2024 (Southeast Asian)

In addition to these needs, the pressure to produce more is set in the backdrop of an intensifying climate change-related issues. Agriculture needs to thrive and be climate change-resilient while facing further challenges such less labor, less water, less agricultural land, lack of access to technologies, among other resources.

Workforce in agriculture is decreasing because expert farmers are aging and rural population are migrating to urban areas. Natural resources such as agricultural land and water are finite and in some areas, dwindling. Thus, farming has to go beyond “business-as-usual” agricultural production and operations. The goal goes beyond increasing productivity, it is about optimizing production in the midst of complex problems that touches on rural development, environmental, social justice, and food consumption outcomes.

Therefore, this year’s theme, “The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Agriculture,” celebrates the innovations and solutions to the many issues and problems being faced by an Asian farmer in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner.

Themes

• The 18th SEARCA Photo Contest (2024), with “The Future of Farming: Pathways to Carbon Neutral Agriculture” as this year’s theme seeks images from Southeast Asia on agricultural technologies and practices that answer to the issues and problems in agriculture. Photo submissions may generally include the following:
  • Agricultural technologies that have a positive impact to farmers and farming communities while conserving natural resources.
  • Technologies or practices that increase yield or income for farmers and farming families in crop cultivation, livestock or fishery while reducing wastes.
  • Agricultural practices or technologies developed by local communities or the youth using indigenous materials or tribal knowledge.
• Specifically, this may also include:
  • Regenerative ways of farming production that promote technologies such as permaculture, agroforestry, organic farming, and peri-urban farming, among other practices.
  • New agribusiness models that introduce platforms for sharing assets (machines, storage, and primary processing; clusters to increase information flow across the value chain (certifications, direct marketing, and e-commerce- based distribution models).
  • Technologies that discourage waste or farm losses such as postharvest technologies.
  • Technologies and practices that make use of waste and by-products such as using them as feeds, compost, or have further use in nonfood value chains (bioplastics, etc.).
  • Biomass energy solutions such as anaerobic biodigesters to produce biogas and compost.
  • Food systems that promote local value chain, urban farming, and vertical farming practices so less use of fuel energy in the transport of produce. Hence, reducing CO2 emission.
  • Use of renewable energy (solar, hydropower, wind) that can be used in agroindustry.
  • Biotechnologies in food production and preservation (e. g. bio-based polymers, fibers, construction materials, leather processing, etc).

Prize Information

• 1st Prize: USD 1,000
• 2nd Prize: USD 800
• 3rd Prize: USD 600
• SEARCA Director’s Choice: USD 500
• Philippine Department of Education Secretary’s Choice: USD 500
• Best Youth Photographer: USD 300
• People’s Choice Award: USD 300

Eligibility Criteria

• The 18th SEARCA Photo Contest (2024) is open to all Southeast Asian nationals except SEARCA staff and their immediate family members.
• A contestant can enter an unlimited number of entries for as long as these meet the photo contest specifications.
• SEARCA has the right to offer the prize to the next winning entry if the winner does not respond within two weeks after notification.
• Remittance of cash prizes will follow any current SEARCA administrative / financial standards / guidelines (e.g., payout to Philippine winners will be in Philippine pesos to preserve the Center’s dollar reserves).

Judging Criteria

• Relevance to the theme: 40%
• Technical quality: 30%
• Impact: 30%

Application Requirements

• To minimize cases of plagiarism, the contestants will be asked to certify that:
  • They own the photographs submitted and that they grant SEARCA full permission to use it in knowledge packaging, sharing, and advocacy related to SEARCA’s mandate. SEARCA shall ensure that the photographer will be properly credited for photos used, such as in print and digital publications;
  • The photographs are original, have not won any previous photo contests, published elsewhere (whether print or electronic), or submitted as entries to any other photo contests during the 18th SEARCA Photo Contest period. The same or similar photos submitted to past SEARCA photo contests may not be submitted again;
  • That the photos have not been digitally altered and/or enhanced in any way other than simple cropping.
• Entries must be digital, colored, in JPEG format, and at least 3,000 pixels wide for a horizontal image, or 3,000 pixels tall for a vertical image at 300 dpi.
• Each entry should have the following details in English:
  • Photographer’s full name, age range, and gender;
  • Photographer’s country of origin;
  • Photographer’s professional status;
  • Photo caption;
  • Place where the photo was taken (include township/municipality, province/state, and country); complete date taken;
  • Other information that may be deemed necessary for reference purposes.
• Winners will be asked to provide their bank information for cash prizes remittance; certificates of recognition will be sent by mail.

For more information, visit SEARCA.