Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently led a Department of Agriculture (DA) delegation to Thailand to explore best practices, techniques, and systems in farming, product development, and agricultural supply chain management.
The DA delegation also discussed bilateral trade opportunities and potential Thai investments in the Philippine agriculture sector with Thai counterparts and the private sector.
During a meeting with executives from Thai food and agri-industrial giant Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF), Tiu Laurel was informed by CPF executives of the Philippines’ potential as a food hub. CPF also revealed plans to establish a food processing facility and distribution network in the Philippines within the next three years.
The DA delegation toured CPF’s Nong Chok factory, which processes 70,000 metric tons of food products, including fillets, ready meals, hams, and sausages, largely for export to Europe.
The delegation also visited CPF’s Makro, a well-known wholesale retailer in Thailand.
“The Philippines is open to sourcing more rice, vegetables, poultry, and pork from Thailand.”
In his visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tiu Laurel conveyed to his Thai counterpart, Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, the Philippines’ openness to sourcing more rice, vegetables, poultry, and pork from Thailand.
Narumon expressed Thailand’s interest in exporting longan and poultry meat to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the agriculture chief highlighted the Philippines’ desire to export Hass avocados and processed meats to Thailand.
“Thailand, a major rice exporter, offers many lessons in agricultural efficiency and food product exports to Europe.”
“We hope this recent visit will lead to greater trade between Manila and Bangkok, as well as more Thai investments in the Philippine agricultural sector,” the agriculture head said. “Thailand, a major rice exporter, offers many lessons in agricultural efficiency and food product exports to Europe.”
The DA team also visited several Thai agricultural projects to observe sustainable farming practices and foster knowledge exchange. At the Cassava Collaborative Farm in Wang Muang, Saraburi, the delegation examined the Bio-Circular-Green Economy model, which emphasizes resource maximization, sustainable practices, and technological innovation. A collaborative committee at the farm ensures product quality through strict management practices.
The team also visited an asparagus farm in Nakhon Pathom, where efficient irrigation systems, contract farming practices, and effective implementation of farming and product standards resulted in increased yields and higher income. The collaborative farm exports asparagus to Taiwan in huge volumes.
The Sanamchan Community Enterprise in Nakhon Pathom demonstrated the benefits of local wisdom, technology, and community resources in producing high-quality crispy vegetables and fruits for export.
At the Asian Institute of Technology’s Smart Greenhouse, the delegation observed advanced climate control systems designed to optimize crop yield.
Potential collaborations were discussed regarding climate-resilient structures, crop varietal development, and sustainable agricultural and fisheries research.
The delegation also visited major food and agricultural wholesale and retail markets, including Or Tor Kor, Simummuang, and Talaad Thai, which serve as critical hubs in Thailand’s agricultural supply chain, distributing fresh produce domestically and internationally.
The visit to these markets provided the delegation with ideas to incorporate in the improvement plans for food terminals in the Philippines.
