MANILA – The EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen collaboration with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) in promoting innovation, trade, and sustainability across the agri-food sector during a recent high-level meeting in Manila.
The courtesy meeting, led by DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro, marked a significant step toward enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience in line with the Philippines’ broader goals of food security and climate-smart growth.
“This cooperation between the Philippines and the EU-ASEAN Business Council will continue to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and food security—not just for the country but for the entire Southeast Asian region,” Navarro said.
Navarro also commended the EU-ABC for its active participation in the 47th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting, and its expressed support for ASEAN’s 2026 Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) on implementing regenerative and resilient agriculture. He emphasized that the Philippines, as the incoming ASEAN Chair in 2026, will take a leading role in championing climate-smart and sustainable agricultural systems across the region.
EU-ABC Executive Director Chris Humphrey highlighted the Council’s continuing regional engagement through initiatives such as the ASEAN Health Summit in Kuala Lumpur and the Annual Sustainability Summit organized by its Philippine Chapter.
“The EU-ASEAN Business Council remains fully committed to supporting sustainable and inclusive agriculture, forging stronger partnerships with rural communities, and advancing the long-anticipated EU–Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA),” Humphrey said.
A dynamic open forum followed, with DA and EU-ABC representatives exploring priority areas for collaboration, including animal health and biosecurity, dairy sector development, agricultural mechanization, organic and regenerative farming, and climate-resilient agriculture technologies.
The meeting was attended by key DA officials, including Undersecretary Constante Palabrica, National Dairy Authority Administrator Marcus Andaya, Bureau of Animal Industry OIC-Director Dr. Christian Daquigan, and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Director Junibert de Sagun, along with representatives from the DA’s International Affairs Division.
The EU delegation included European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Florian Gottien and senior representatives from various European companies engaged in agriculture, food systems, and sustainability programs.
Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen EU–Philippines agricultural cooperation, foster innovation and sustainable growth, and build a resilient and future-ready agri-food sector across ASEAN.
NPO News Team | PNA-PR
