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Makati City, Philippines — The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), through its Agriculture Committee, held the 9th Sustainable Agriculture Forum at Raffles & Fairmont Makati on 30 April 2026, bringing together leaders from the government, industry, and development institutions to explore strategies that can drive resilience, productivity, and inclusive growth in the Philippine agriculture sector.

The forum underscored the critical role of agriculture in shaping livelihoods, ensuring food security, and strengthening national resilience amid mounting global and local challenges. Key sessions explored the integration of climate-responsive practices and emerging technologies, alongside pathways to strengthen competitiveness and deepen value creation across crops, livestock, and fisheries.

“The Philippines has the opportunity not only to participate in dialogue, but to lead by example in agricultural transformation, and the European Union can be a strong partner,” shared ECCP President Paulo Duarte.

“With the anticipated conclusion of the EU-Philippine Free Trade Agreement talks, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate modernization, unlock investment, and align with global best practices,” added Duarte.

Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator and CEO Dr. Dexter R. Buted also noted that the European business community brings the expertise, technology, and market insights needed to accelerate transformation. He also stressed that elevating farmers in sustainable production is not an option but a mission-critical.

On one hand, the adoption of efficient production systems and market-oriented strategies as drivers of sectoral development was another focus of the forum.

Dr. Constante Palabrica, Livestock Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture, shared: “Government interventions are warranted to enhance sector resilience and competitiveness.” He also noted that the animal industry holds much promise and is a strong pillar of agricultural development.

Finally, the program highlighted the importance of coordinated action among stakeholders to scale solutions that are both inclusive and practical, with direct impact on farmers and rural communities.

“For agriculture to be sustainable, especially in these critical times of spiralling energy and input costs, we must have a sustainable way to finance agriculture,” remarked Atty. Arthur C. Yap, former Secretary of Agriculture and current Member of the House of Representatives.

Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Ching Caballero also shared: “Endurance is no longer enough, we must build resilience: systems that not only survive shocks, but adapts, regenerates, and thrives.”

“When we are engaged with the communities we work with, we can create pathways… Ube reminds us that resilience is not new—it is embedded in our history, our biodiversity, and in the wisdom of our farmers,” stated Cabellero.

The same call for coordinated action was also echoed by ASEAN Business Advisory Council Executive Director Anthony Patrick Chua: “We want to feed our region competitively and sustainably… Through private sector leadership, we can transform ASEAN into a global agricultural powerhouse.”

Ultimately, the forum served as a vital platform for knowledge exchange and partnership-building, reflecting the ECCP’s continued engagement in supporting a more adaptive and forward-looking agricultural landscape in the Philippines.

“There is no one-size-fits-all,” noted Engr. Ismail A. Guiamel, Bangsamoro Director General for Agriculture Services. “[We must] integrate science, culture inclusion, indigenous knowledge, and local needs and situations.”

The forum also featured speeches and presentations from H.E. Massimo Santoro, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines.; Mr. James P. Amparo, CEO and President of Yovel East Research & Development Inc.; Mr. Leandro “Dax” Gazmin, Executive Director of the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA); and Mr. Julius Barcelona, Chief Operating Officer of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation.

The forum was attended by ECCP leaders, including Executive Director Florian Gottein; ECCP Agriculture Committee Chair Ms. Ruth Novales; and Agriculture Committee Co-chairs Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc and Tom Van der Meulen.

The 9th Sustainable Agriculture Forum is supported by Advocacy Partners European Union Delegation to the Philippines, Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines, Embassy of Romania in the Philippines, Royal Danish Embassy in Manila, Embassy of Slovenia in Manila, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, Dutch Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Foodlink Advocacy Co-operative, and the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA); Gold Partners Nestlé Philippines and Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc.; Silver Partners Cargill, Jollibee Group Foundation, and Race to Net Zero Philippines (RTNZ); Booth Space Partners Harbest Agribusiness Corporation and Land Bank of the Philippines; Table Top Partners East-West Seed Co Inc., Rotico Food Products (Romana Peanut Brittle), and Sentinel Plastic MFG., Corporation; Swag Bag Partner Control Union Philippines; Conference Badge and Bag Partner Yara Fertilizers Philippines Inc.; and Media Partners Eco-Business, iMPACT, and The Manila Times.