The Philippines affirmed its commitment to sustainable food development by presenting a $108.88 million agrifood investment portfolio at the 2025 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.
The forum was held during the World Food Forum (WFF) at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome on Oct. 14, 2025.
This was the Philippines’ second year participating in the event, with this year’s portfolio focusing on innovation, food security, and climate resilience.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. opened the session by outlining a vision to position the Philippines as a leading agribusiness hub in Asia. He emphasized inclusive growth, farmer empowerment, and climate-smart practices, which align with the FAO’s data-driven, integrated Hand-in-Hand approach.
Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Arnel De Mesa detailed the country’s investment plan, which targets four key commodities: mango, abaca, seaweeds, and bamboo.
The entire portfolio is projected to benefit more than 35,000 rural stakeholders. It boasts a high return, with a projected net present value (NPV) of $131.9 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 34.39 percent. The projects also support the country’s climate goals by aiming to sequester more than 280,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The initiative leverages the Philippines’ global leadership in carrageenan production by introducing the multiple raft method to boost yields and improve seed quality. This project is expected to raise farmer incomes by up to 60 percent.
The proposal seeks to modernize the mango value chain, which produced 763,298 metric tons in 2024. Investments will focus on post-harvest treatment, cold storage, and value-added processing, such as frozen mangoes, purees, and pickles. The project is projected to yield an IRR of 39.58 percent and an NPV of $83.4 million.
Addressing a global supply shortage of 25,000 metric tons, the abaca project will establish modern processing centers and rehabilitate farmlands to support 300 farmers.
The Philippines currently supplies 85 percent of the world’s abaca fiber, and this initiative could further boost farmer incomes by 50 percent, with an expected IRR of 28.36 percent.
Meanwhile, the plan involves utilizing 1.5 million hectares of land for bamboo plantations, aiming to tap into the $72.1 billion global market for sustainable materials. The project is forecast to achieve an IRR of 33 percent.
