The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reaffirmed their partnership to accelerate the transformation of the Philippines’ agrifood systems and strengthen food security through investment and innovation.

On 13 October 2025, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Dr. Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, to align priorities centered on climate resilience, technological innovation, and inclusive rural growth.

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

The discussions build on over four decades of cooperation between the Philippines and FAO, which now expands to address new economic challenges such as climate change, supply disruptions, and volatile food prices that threaten regional stability.

Tiu Laurel confirmed the country’s full support for the World Food Forum (WFF) 2025, currently being held at the FAO headquarters in Rome from 10 to 17 October, where the DA will be presenting youth-led innovations, agri-tech startups, and climate-smart farming models. He said the forum should serve as a launchpad for public–private partnerships that drive measurable progress across the sector.

The Philippines also pledged active participation in FAO’s 80th anniversary (FAO80) through exhibits and events showcasing local advances in agriculture, fisheries, and rural development.

Acknowledging decades of underinvestment, the Agriculture chief sought FAO’s technical support to help the country catch up on 27 years of agricultural development backlogs. He identified seaweed, mango, abaca, and bamboo as key high-value commodities for investment and export growth.

“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 added.

The Philippines will also contribute expertise on digital agriculture, fisheries, and nutrition at the upcoming FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) 2026, and has renewed its offer to host APRC 39 in 2028 — underscoring its ambition to become a regional hub for agrifood innovation and South–South cooperation.

In line with this, the country will host the Regional Conference on Agricultural Mechanization in 2026, led by DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa in coordination with related agencies.

Both parties also agreed to finalize the Country Programming Framework (CPF 2025–2031), aligning it with the Philippine Development Plan and the national food security agenda. The updated framework will prioritize investment in productivity, market access, and climate resilience for farmers and fisherfolk.

“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,” said Tiu Laurel.