Agriculture
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.
Climate-ready rice fights floods, salt threats
Rice has long been a symbol of resilience on the Filipino plate. Now, scientists are working to make the grain itself more resilient in the field.
Agriculture storm damage hits P135M
Agricultural damage and losses from Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon has climbed to P135.3 million, affecting 6,010 farmers and damaging 4,516 hectares of farmland across five regions, according to the Department of Agriculture.
