The Philippines is sharpening its pitch for agriculture to global investors, recasting the sector as a sustainable, bankable growth engine anchored on modern, climate-resilient practices.
In partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Department of Agriculture (DA) reaffirmed its commitment through the recent Hand-in-Hand National Investment Forum 2026, an enduring collaboration to mobilize capital for a more resilient and sustainable farm sector.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative forms part of a broader push to align investments with the DA’s sustainability agenda, from climate-smart farming to more efficient, low-waste value chains.
“This is a shared vision for the agri-fisheries sector. We redefine Philippine agriculture from being a legacy of the past to a sustainable engine for growth,” he said, noting that the initiative brings together development institutions and private investors to accelerate rural growth while advancing sustainable practices.
The forum, organized with the Food and Agriculture Organization, is designed to channel private capital into farming, fisheries and rural infrastructure, with emphasis on projects that strengthen resilience, improve productivity and promote responsible resource use.
Sustainable investment
The Hand-in-Hand (HIH) initiative is a global FAO platform that matches data-driven agricultural priorities with financing and technical expertise.
Hosting the forum in Manila underscores the Philippines’ push to convert global interest into investments that build inclusive, sustainable value chains—aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agenda of strengthening food security, boosting farm productivity and advancing climate resilience.
Tiu Laurel said the country’s participation in the FAO Global Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in 2024 and 2025 demonstrated that Philippine agriculture could attract global financiers.
Bringing the forum to Manila, he said, is meant to bridge global capital with local stakeholders, particularly in scaling up sustainability-driven, investment-ready projects.
Climate-resilient programs
The DA has been laying the groundwork for a more sustainable sector through a range of climate-focused programs, such as the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA), which supports climate-resilient farming and fishing communities through risk management tools, enterprise development and localized climate adaptation strategies.
The initiative is complemented by the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) project, which expands access to climate information, strengthens agri-enterprises and helps farmers adopt adaptive practices that improve productivity and incomes.
The DA has also been mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture across its programs, including farmer training on water management, soil health and sustainable production systems, alongside the use of modern technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.
Path to sustainability
Despite employing millions, agriculture has struggled to attract large-scale investment due to fragmented supply chains, climate risks and infrastructure deficits—challenges the DA is addressing through modernization efforts that embed sustainability across production and post-harvest systems.
By promoting agriculture as a “highly bankable sector,” the DA is signaling a shift toward investment-led transformation that supports climate-adaptive farming, reduces losses and enhances supply chain efficiency.
The DA noted that private-sector participation proves that public funds alone cannot drive the transition. While institutions such as ADB and FAO provide frameworks, technical support and credibility, scaling sustainable agriculture will depend on mobilizing commercial capital.
