Agriculture
First commercial shipment of Philippine fermented cacao beans heads to New Zealand
The Philippines has opened a new export market for its local cacao sector, with the first-ever commercial batch of fermented cacao beans sent to New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday.
Agri damage from Habagat, Luis, Maymay hits P197M
Combined agriculture losses from the enhanced monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay reached P197 million as of August 11 — up from P135.3 million — the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Wednesday. Rice accounts for P143 million of the total, with vegetables and irrigation facilities making up the rest.
Special safeguard duty imposed to protect local producers from import surges
To shield domestic livestock producers from market disruption caused by foreign supply spikes, the Department of Agriculture has activated special safeguard duties on select imported meat products. Issued under Department Order No. 24, series of 2026, by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the directive establishes temporary protective tariffs after government monitoring confirmed that incoming import volumes crossed official safety thresholds.
DA pushes local enoki mushroom production to cut imports, boost food security and exports
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is advancing import substitution efforts by supporting Basic Necessity Inc., a Filipino-owned firm building a state-of-the-art enoki mushroom facility in Silang, Cavite. This fully private-sector-funded venture aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goals: localize key industries, grow agro-industry, create jobs, and ensure steady access to affordable, nutritious food.
Beyond purple: UPLB researchers identify top ube varieties to power global success
Ube has captured the world’s imagination—once a familiar backyard crop in Filipino homes, this purple yam now appears in cheesecakes in New York, croissants in Paris, and lattes in Sydney. But to turn viral popularity into lasting success, the Philippines needs more than buzz; it needs better ube. That is exactly what scientists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) set out to find.
