A representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called on Philippine policymakers to promote more diversified and healthier food systems, warning the country’s dependence on rice has overshadowed the nutritional and economic potential of other local crops.
Lionel Dabbadie, the FAO’s representative in the Philippines, said on the sidelines of the Second Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights that non-communicable diseases linked to poor diets are costing the country the equivalent of 7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
“We realized that the cost of non-communicable diseases like obesity and diabetes, for the Philippines, is equivalent to 7 percent of GDP,” Dabbadie said, adding that “billions could be saved” by promoting healthier eating habits.
While praising government efforts to prioritize nutrition, Dabbadie said the conversation on food security should not be limited to rice.
“Rice is important in the Philippines because of its central role in the diet and in politics. But we should get out of this rice-only approach and promote more diversified food systems,” he said.
Dabbadie also noted that many small farmers, despite maintaining hundreds of rice and crop varieties, remain among the poorest in the country. He emphasized the need to ensure these farmers can earn a decent living.
He cited the “largely untapped potential” of Philippine agriculture beyond rice, including traditional vegetables, root crops and the country’s rich aquatic resources.
Diversifying food systems, he said, not only strengthens nutrition but also creates economic opportunities for farmers cultivating traditional and indigenous crops.
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