News Details

PH, FAO Strengthen Alliance to Lead Agrifood System Transformation in Asia

NPO

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October 14, 2025

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have reaffirmed their decades-long partnership to accelerate agrifood systems transformation, strengthen food security, and drive inclusive growth in Southeast Asia.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, for a high-level dialogue aligning strategies on climate resilience, innovation, and sustainable development.

“We are not only talking about food security. We are committing to the transformation of agrifood systems with investment, innovation, and inclusive growth,” Tiu Laurel said.

The meeting marked a new chapter in more than 40 years of PH–FAO collaboration, now focused on tackling modern challenges such as climate change, animal and plant disease outbreaks, and volatile food prices.

Boosting Innovation and Global Engagement

The Philippines confirmed its full support for the upcoming World Food Forum 2025, where the DA will highlight youth-led innovations, agritech breakthroughs, and climate-smart farming solutions. The event will also serve as a platform to forge new public-private partnerships and accelerate project implementation.

In addition, the country pledged active participation in FAO 80th Anniversary celebrations, showcasing milestones in agriculture, fisheries, and rural development through high-level representation and exhibits.

Tiu Laurel also sought FAO’s technical support to address 27 years of underinvestment in Philippine agriculture, identifying seaweed, mango, abaca, and bamboo as priority commodities with strong economic potential.

“The Philippines wants to move beyond project proposals to implementation pathways, with FAO’s support through normative guidance, technical assistance, and convening power,” Tiu Laurel emphasized.

Strategic Role in Regional Food Security

The Philippines is set to contribute its expertise on climate resilience, digital agriculture, fisheries, and nutrition at the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific 2026 and has renewed its offer to host FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific 39 in 2028. This move aims to position the country as a regional hub for agrifood innovation and South–South knowledge exchange.

The Philippines will also host the Regional Conference on Agricultural Mechanization 2026, with Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa leading preparations with DA agencies and partners.

Both parties agreed to jointly refine the upcoming Country Programming Framework 2025–2031, ensuring alignment with the Philippine Development Plan, national food security goals, and climate commitments.

Turning Dialogue into Action

The high-level meeting concluded with a firm commitment to translate strategic discussions into tangible results.

“By combining FAO’s technical expertise and convening power with the Philippines’ reform agenda and investment priorities, we can deliver lasting improvements in food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience,” Tiu Laurel said.

This renewed partnership cements the Philippines’ role as a regional leader in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agrifood systems.

NPO News Team | DA–OSEC PR