Dairy is a staple worldwide. Unfortunately, Filipinos have limited access to fresh milk, with the country importing 90 percent or 2.8 million metric tons of its milk and milk byproducts due to poor feed and management practices, high production costs and lack of adequate infrastructure.

According to Global Ag Media's dairy industry news outlet, The Dairy Site, the Philippines imports nearly $500 million worth of raw milk from countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Going into processing for commercial reconstituted milk and other dairy products, the domestic dairy industry is valued at P65 billion.

This is where Metro Pacific Agro Ventures aims to help. The newly founded MPAV serves a specific purpose to Metro Pacific Investment Corporation. This holding company was established as the agricultural arm that will help develop the country's agricultural sector. The MPAV will be the holding company for all agricultural endeavors, starting with the growth of Philippine dairy as an industry.

MPIC CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said, "The agricultural sector presents a wide range of possibilities that can help us achieve several goals — to strengthen the food supply chain and augment the accessibility of resources for all Filipinos to provide more opportunities for growth in an otherwise underserved business."

He continued, "Ultimately, the country should aim for substantial independence in food. And we must feed our people first."

Driven by a vision fueled by innovation, MPAV will bring the future of Filipino agriculture to the forefront — food by Filipinos, for Filipinos. It aims to contribute by making a positive impact in the following: Improving Filipino health using creating fresh and nutritious produce, bolstering the economy and sufficiency through sustainable agriculture, and of course, making farming innovative and desirable as means of livelihood again.

"Ninety-nine percent of the Philippines' milk products are imported, with domestic production only amounting to one percent of the total demand," Pangilinan added. "Our current dairy industry still needs to improve and fast. While these aren't the best conditions for the freshest milk available to Filipinos, with MPAV's establishment of Metro Pacific Dairy Farms in cooperation with the LR Group, the Province of Laguna, University of the Philippines – Los Baños, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the National Dairy Authority, a better, fresher Philippine dairy industry will be made possible."

He referred to his group's partnership with Israeli firm LR Group to increase the country's fresh milk production three-fold.

The expansion of Metro Pacific Dairy Farms will implement global, sustainable technological advancements. MPDF will be equipped with solar farms that will produce power for the dairy facility, a water treatment plant that will provide human-grade drinking water for cattle, and a waste management facility that will allow the facility to produce fertilizer.

By implementing hi-tech milking parlors, Philippine dairy farms can increase milk production instead of heavily relying on imported products.

Envisioning a self-sustained dairy-producing country, MPAV and LR Group, Ltd. launched the MPDF — a state-of-the-art facility with 1,000 cows, with 600 for milking. It's a facility where modernization meets sustainability.

MPDF aims to maximize fresh milk's shelf life through highly mechanized and automated operations, ensuring adherence to quality and safety standards. It will also be equipped with solar farms that will produce power for the dairy facility, a water treatment plant that will provide human-grade drinking water for the cattle, and a waste management facility that will allow the facility to produce fertilizer.

Addressing the local dairy sector's pressing problems isn't just for the benefit of our local agriculture but also for the farmers and producers who have dedicated their lives to the industry. Apart from helping pave the way for the Philippine dairy industry, MPDF plans to solidify a relationship with local corn farmers and help and work with local corn farmers for cattle feed rations.

They also aim to be a future training facility for future farmers and experts in agriculture, in partnership with academic entities.

With these sustainable innovations in mind, consumers can expect healthy, high-quality, and delicious options for all their dairy needs. These modern farming practices are aimed to go beyond fresh milk.