The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) have teamed up to hold the Food and Agribusiness Forum – Digital Transformation in Philippine Food and Agribusiness: Innovations for the Future on 14 March 2025 at the UA&P Campus in Pasig City, Philippines.
The organizers have gathered prominent Philippine food and agribusiness speakers to share real-world strategies to boost farm productivity, streamline operations, and improve access to markets, financing, and government support.
Distinguished Filipino economist and educator Dr. Bernardo Villegas, Co-Founder and Professor of UA&P, will deliver the keynote address to set the stage for four panel discussions that will explore digitalization in farm production, logistics, financing, and policy development in agribusiness.
Leaders from Lionheart Farms, Anihan Agritech, Harbest Agribusiness, and the Philippine Rice Research Institute will take part in the first panel discussion, which will center on digitalization in farm production and postharvest. They will share insights on emerging technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.
Mayani, KITA Agritech, Agro-DigitalPH, and the Philippine Department of Agriculture's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service will tackle digitalization in logistics and market access during the second panel discussion. They will propose viable strategies to strengthen supply chains and expand market reach.
Representatives from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Maya Bank, Fuse by GCash, and the Department of Agriculture's ICT Service will be in the panel for the session on financing in digital agriculture, particularly in terms of financial solutions and investment opportunities that drive agribusiness innovation.
Insights on creating an enabling environment for digital transformation in agriculture will be shared by panelists from SEARCA, East-West Seed, the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA), and the Asian Development Bank. They will provide perspectives from the standpoint of policy and partnerships.
SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio sees the imperative of action. He said, "To achieve a more efficient and broadly beneficial agriculture, we must strategically deploy novel technologies. This forum will foster collaboration among key players to accelerate the adoption of technology-driven solutions in food and agribusiness."
The Food and Agribusiness Forum is part of SEARCA's broader efforts to promote sustainable agricultural development through knowledge-sharing, policy dialogues, and capacity-building initiatives.