The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Tuesday.
The agreement was signed during the 47th ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry meeting and builds on a Letter of Intent signed in May 2024. It aims to strengthen food security through collaboration in areas such as agrifood trade, aquaculture, agro-biotechnology, and precision agriculture.
Key areas of cooperation include joint research, technology exchange, livestock and crop development, and market access initiatives. The MOU also supports capacity building through training programs, technical visits, and the sharing of research and data.
Private sector engagement is a major component, with both countries committing to promote agrifood investment and trade, including collaboration on sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
The agreement also outlines frameworks for policy coordination, intellectual property protection, and information confidentiality.
Once ratified through diplomatic channels, the MOU is expected to further deepen the long-standing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations, amid growing regional challenges to food systems. Brunei held a US$224 million trade surplus with the Philippines in 2024.
