The US government, through the US Commercial Service, sent its first Agricultural Technology Trade Mission to Davao City and Manila to explore trade and investment opportunities that will help support the resiliency of the Philippine agricultural supply chain.
Nine American companies and one US state university were part of the trade mission that brought a mix of the latest innovations in agriculture technology (precision agriculture, digital farming, genetics), postharvest infrastructure, irrigation, farm mechanization, agricultural chemicals, IT-enabled services for agriculture, and animal feeds, among others.
US trade mission participants included Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Aviagen Inc., Cargill, John Deere, PepsiCo, Sukup Manufacturing, Valmont Industries, Veea Inc., Viasat, and Northwest Missouri State University.
Organized in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), the trade mission’s engagements with various regional and local business councils, Philippine companies, and government agencies strengthened the shared commitments of the Philippines and the US toward promoting food security. During their visit, the trade mission met with the National Food Authority, the Department of Finance, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
While in Davao, the trade mission met with government leaders from Davao City led by Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr., representatives from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), local industry players, and business associations. During these meetings, trade mission members discussed the importance of collaboration in achieving food security and strengthening the Philippine agriculture industry, especially in BARMM.
During their visit to Manila, the trade mission met with Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban to discuss collaborations in improving high-value crops, such as rice and corn, in the Philippines.
In 2022, US-Philippine bilateral trade in agricultural products exceeded $4 billion. The Philippines is a Top 10 market for US agricultural exports. At the same time, the US is increasing its purchase of Philippine agricultural commodities, helping create jobs in rural communities.
(Source: U.S. Embassy in the Philippines)
