Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. recently led a delegation to Thailand to explore the country’s advanced farming practices and discuss potential trade and investment opportunities in the agriculture sector. The trip focused on learning from Thailand’s successful agricultural techniques, supply chain management, and product development.
During the visit, Tiu Laurel met with Thai food and agri-industrial giant Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), which plans to establish a food processing facility in the Philippines within the next three years. CPF executives highlighted the Philippines’ potential as a food hub, noting their interest in expanding operations in the country.
In addition, the delegation explored opportunities for bilateral trade, with Tiu Laurel expressing interest in importing more rice, vegetables, poultry, and pork from Thailand. Thailand, in turn, expressed a desire to export longan and poultry meat to the Philippines. The Philippines also hopes to export Hass avocados and processed meats to Thailand.
The delegation visited various agricultural sites, such as the Cassava Collaborative Farm, which promotes sustainable farming through the Bio-Circular-Green Economy model, and an asparagus farm with efficient irrigation systems and contract farming. They also toured advanced agricultural facilities like the Smart Greenhouse at the Asian Institute of Technology, observing innovative climate control systems aimed at optimizing crop yields.
Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of these exchanges for strengthening agricultural ties between the two nations, hoping the visit will lead to greater trade and more Thai investments in the Philippine agricultural sector. The delegation also gathered insights to improve food terminals and distribution networks in the Philippines.
