Agriculture

Philippines expands affordable rice programme to support millions (Image credit: Agro spectrum Asia)

The Department of Agriculture is rapidly expanding its nationwide rice initiative under the programme “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, a key effort backed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The move comes as rising fuel costs continue to affect food prices, putting pressure on household budgets across the country.

To ease this strain, the government is increasing the number of distribution points and extending operating hours, allowing more Filipinos to purchase rice at a subsidised price of P20 per kilo. According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the goal is to ensure food remains accessible despite ongoing economic challenges linked to transport and logistics.

By the first quarter of 2026, 932 selling sites had already been set up nationwide. These include KADIWA centres, National Food Authority warehouses, and outlets managed by local and national agencies, along with partners accredited by Food Terminal Inc.. As of early April, the programme has reached 6.45 million beneficiaries, including senior citizens, low income households, solo parents, persons with disabilities, farmers and fisherfolk.

“We have sufficient food supply, but elevated fuel and logistics costs are pushing market prices to levels that further contain the budgets of many Filipinos,” Tiu Laurel said. “By expanding access to affordable rice and essential goods, we are directly easing that pressure and ensuring vulnerable sectors are protected while we work to stabilize both prices and supply.”

Further expansion is already in motion. The DA plans to introduce another 900 outlets, focusing on areas with greater need such as Capiz, Bukidnon and Cebu. This effort is supported by a strengthened partnership between Food Terminal Inc. and the National Food Authority, ensuring both supply and funding remain stable throughout 2026.

The agreement includes the procurement of 1.8 million sacks of rice backed by a 3 billion budget. Officials say this will not only support consumers but also protect farmers by maintaining fair buying prices.

“We assure that this budget will be used to secure better prices for our farmers, especially during the harvest season. In some areas, we have already increased our buying price to as much as ₱30 per kilo to prevent a drop in farmgate palay prices,” said NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson. “The NFA continues to step in to protect the income of our farmers,” he added.

“Given the current instability in market prices due to external conflicts, we are seeing a significant increase in buyers turning to our outlets to access quality rice at lower cost,” said Joseph Rudolph C. Lo. “We are closely coordinating with government partners to manage this demand and are preparing to expand our network further, with a target of reaching 1,800 P20 rice selling sites nationwide by the end of 2026,” he added.

Bhutan's food offerings effortlessly meet sustainability criteria.

Bhutan recently concluded its mini-market event in Singapore after Bangkok, as part of its shift to market-oriented agricultural system from subsistence farming 

Bhutanese entrepreneurs are looking for post-event business exchanges with clients and consumers from Singapore. This anticipation is built on the interests generated from the mini-market's diverse displays, including everything from processed foods to agricultural goods from 11 Bhutanese agri-food entrepreneurs. 

Backed by Singaporean partners, JICA Bhutan and the IFC-World Bank Group, the mini-market had a Bhutanese delegation led by the country's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho. “Bhutan offers the world something special, a clean, natural, and high-quality food products grown in one of the last pristine environments on Earth,” said Younten Phuntsho. 

Bhutan's food offerings thus effortlessly meet sustainability criteria even as the world looks at it as a goal to be reached. Known for its one-of-a-kind and sustainably produced eatables, Singapore's regional market has peaked Bhutan's interests for a meaningful partnership.

Environmental responsibility besides, public health also remains a priority for the Bhutan government in developing the country's agriculture industry for a stronger economy at large. 

Acknowledging all the partners involved, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC) shared its long-term plans to promote Bhutanese agri-food products in global markets through such events and trade platforms. 

Gene Edited Citrus Breakthrough Offers Hope for Struggling US Growers

A new step forward in agricultural science could bring relief to citrus growers globally 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has approved CarriCea T1, a gene edited citrus rootstock developed to help trees defend themselves against citrus greening disease. This decision comes at a crucial time for an industry that has faced heavy losses over the past twenty years.

Citrus greening remains one of the most serious threats to citrus farming in the country. The disease has had a deep impact, particularly in Florida, where orange production has dropped to levels not seen in decades. Growers have struggled to keep orchards productive as the infection spreads, making the need for new solutions more urgent than ever.

CarriCea T1 offers a different approach to tackling the problem. Instead of relying on traditional methods, it works by making precise changes to the plant’s own genetic structure. These edits help disrupt how the bacteria behind citrus greening interacts with the tree. Unlike other genetic technologies, it does not involve adding foreign DNA, and officials have confirmed that the fruit produced remains no different from that grown using standard rootstock.

One of the key benefits of this innovation is its potential to cut down the use of chemical sprays. By strengthening the tree’s natural defence system, growers may not need to depend as heavily on pesticides. This could reduce chemical exposure in orchards and support more sustainable farming practices over time.

Before granting approval, the EPA carried out a detailed safety review. This included assessing dietary risks and examining any residues linked to the product. The agency concluded that CarriCea T1 meets established standards for both human health and environmental safety.

The approval reflects a wider push to encourage innovation in farming while maintaining strong safeguards. For citrus growers, it brings renewed hope of protecting crops, improving yields, and securing the future of the industry in a changing agricultural landscape.

FAO Chief urges faster global action on One Health Agenda (Image credit: FAO)

At a key global meeting in Lyon, Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, called for stronger and faster efforts to advance the One Health agenda.

Speaking at the fourth annual executive meeting of the Quadripartite partnership, he warned that gaps in capacity and a lack of stable funding are still slowing real progress.

The Quadripartite brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, and World Organisation for Animal Health. This alliance aims to improve cooperation across sectors to better protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. At its core is the One Health approach, which encourages collaboration across disciplines to address shared challenges such as disease, food safety, and environmental risks.

During his opening remarks, Qu recognised the progress made in recent years, especially in strengthening cooperation and advancing the Joint Plan of Action. Still, he made it clear that progress has not been equal everywhere and that more must be done to turn plans into real change on the ground.

"This meeting is not only about taking stock - it is about accelerating action," Qu said. "We need to expand and scale One Health implementation at country and community level. We need to work collectively, bringing together our individual comparative advantages, in line with our connected yet distinct mandates."

He also highlighted the need to strengthen knowledge sharing and build stronger evidence to show the value of One Health investments. According to him, improving governance, encouraging scientific collaboration, and building stronger communities of practice will be essential for long term success.

As the FAO prepares to pass leadership of the partnership to the World Health Organization, Qu outlined key priorities for the future. These include scaling up action at country level, securing sustainable investment, and raising political awareness to keep One Health high on the global agenda.

He concluded by thanking partner organisations for their continued cooperation and reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to building more resilient and sustainable food systems worldwide.