Better farm data seen improving food supply planning

Better agricultural data could lead to smarter food supply decisions as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) deepen their partnership to expand the use of satellite technology and artificial intelligence in monitoring farm production.

The two agencies agreed to strengthen data sharing and modernize the country's agricultural statistics system, giving policymakers better tools to assess production trends, identify supply gaps, and target government interventions.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said reliable and timely information is essential to improving production planning, logistics, and food security.

"As they say, information is key to making the right decisions," Tiu Laurel said. "Accurate and timely data will ensure that our food security objectives are met. It tells us where production is strong, where it is weak, and where government intervention is needed."

A key part of the partnership is the wider use of digital technologies to improve the accuracy and timeliness of agricultural statistics.

Economic Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the PSA has begun piloting satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to estimate crop production, technologies already being used in several countries to improve agricultural monitoring.

"We want to assure the DA that we are generating reliable and accurate statistics," Mapa said, adding that discussions also focused on strengthening the capacity of local government units and DA-attached agencies to improve the quality of agricultural data. "The accuracy of data is critical in supporting sound policymaking,” he said.

Mapa said closer collaboration between the two agencies is timely as the agriculture and fisheries sectors remain key drivers of economic growth, employment, and the country's food supply.

For the DA, agricultural data should be more forward-looking to allow the government to respond to potential supply risks before they escalate into shortages.

"Data should not simply tell us what happened," Tiu Laurel said. "It should help us anticipate what comes next so the DA can be proactive, not reactive, in protecting the country's food supply."