The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), a prominent agricultural supply chain group, has launched a seven-day agricultural technology trade mission in the Philippines. This mission involves 10 US companies seeking partnerships with local opportunities in the areas of technological farming solutions, agricultural supplies, and agricultural education.
During a reception at the Grand Hyatt on Monday, Oct. 2, Joseph Walters, BCIU Senior Program Officer of Agriculture, expressed the mission’s goal of improving food security by promoting capacity building and identifying innovative solutions through collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Among the 10 companies participating in the mission are John Deere’s Philippine partner Abomar Equipment Sales Corp., Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Aviagen, Cargill, Northwest Missouri State University, Pepsico, Sukup Manufacturing, Valmont Industries, Veea Inc., and Viasat.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, who spoke at the reception, emphasized the significance of food and nutrition security for national security and highlighted the agricultural cooperation as a key economic partnership between the US and the Philippines. Bilateral trade in agricultural products between the two countries exceeded $4 billion last year, with the Philippines being a top market for US exports.
As part of the mission, the delegation also attended the 25th Davao Agri-Trade Expo (DATE) from Sept. 28-30. The group had the opportunity to connect with senior decision-makers in the regional private agriculture office in Davao and officials from BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
Abomar Equipment Sales Corp. Vice President Rafael Majam expressed satisfaction with the mission, citing the chance to meet potential clients such as the Maharlika Agro-group, which aims to engage in corporate farming for corn production.
Paul Taylor, Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in the Philippines, explained that the mission had a special focus on reaching out to BARMM and identifying opportunities for bringing technology to improve agriculture outcomes in the region.
The concept of peaceful commerce was also emphasized by Taylor, who stated that the mission was designed to ensure that any trade between the US and the Philippines would lead to peaceful outcomes.
BCIU, founded in 1955, is a nonpartisan membership organization that promotes dialogue between business and political leaders. It boasts over 200 companies in its membership.
Challenges within the agri-tech sector were also addressed during the mission. Some of the challenges identified include limitations in market supply, technology, and educational investment. To address supply issues, Aviagen Asia-Pacific Business Manager Rafael Monleon mentioned that their company is considering expanding its distribution network to fill gaps in the market.
John Atkinson, Key Accounts Manager at Valmont Industries, highlighted the limited presence of the company’s two-kilometer-long center pivot irrigation system in the Philippines. Atkinson emphasized the need for agricultural technology companies to connect with large-scale farms and mechanize operations to effectively address this challenge.
Thomas Merlot, Director of the International Involvement Center at Northwest Missouri State University, pointed out the opportunity and challenge of investing in the education sector to enhance food security. Merlot emphasized the strong return on investment in education, despite the associated costs.
However, Taylor clarified that food security does not necessarily mean full self-sufficiency for the country. He explained that the focus of the mission is on partnering with the Philippine government to improve food security through long-term solutions such as investment, collaboration, technology, and education.
In conclusion, the BCIU’s agricultural technology trade mission in the Philippines aims to foster partnerships and promote innovation in the agricultural sector. With a focus on improving food security and addressing challenges, this mission highlights the strong economic partnership between the US and the Philippines.
