Jayson S. Cabral, a PhD Candidate at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), received an Honorable Mention Best Paper Award at the 3rd ASEAN University Symposium for Sustainable Food Systems: Bioeconomy of Sustainable Food Systems, held on 20–22 May 2026 at Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

His paper examined the carbon capture and storage potential of grasslands in San Jose, Tarlac, highlighting the role of grassland ecosystems in carbon sequestration, sustainable land management, and natural capital accounting.

The paper was co-authored with Dr. Chelo S. Pascua (adviser), Dr. Cherry L. Ringor (co-adviser), Alexander Keihl B. Magtoto, and Edblanch Y. Blanco.