Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has called for urgent reforms in the farming sector, saying that digital and climate-smart practices should be adopted amid extreme weather, shrinking farmlands and fresh trade uncertainty from higher US tariffs.
Speaking at the 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Forum hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Tiu Laurel said innovation is crucial for the sector to remain viable.
“These challenges are not distant threats. They are here now,” he said. “They demand urgent, creative, and adaptive solutions.”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is promoting revised cropping calendars, greenhouse farming and water-saving systems, while also rolling out mobile soil labs and precision tools.
Tiu Laurel noted that artificial intelligence is being used to optimize planting schedules, forecast yields, and reduce losses, alongside regenerative farming methods to restore soil health.
The DA is also working to attract younger Filipinos into farming through scholarships, mentorships, and startup support, noting the average farmer is now over 55 years old. The department is expanding crop insurance, early warning systems and public-private partnerships to scale up these innovations.
“The future of our agriculture depends on the choices we make now,” he said. “We must support our farmers, embrace technology, and build strong partnerships for a food-secure, sustainable future.”
The DA chief’s call comes as trade negotiations with Washington have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the Philippines had accepted a 19-percent tariff on its exports while granting duty-free access to American goods.
Tiu Laurel said he had received assurances from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs that key farm products, including rice, corn, sugar, chicken, fish and pork would be protected in the talks.
Malacañang clarified that no concessions harmful to local producers have been made and that exemptions for sensitive exports such as semiconductors and electronics are being sought.
The tariff discussions follow a $1.95-billion agricultural trade deficit for the Philippines with the US in 2024, despite a $3.98-billion overall surplus. Coconut oil led Philippine farm exports at $558.7 million, while US shipments of feeds and cereals remained dominant.
While Tiu Laurel admitted that zero tariffs on US farm imports could pressure local producers, he also said cheaper inputs could benefit the livestock and food processing industries.
