The Philippines and France have agreed to strengthen their agricultural collaboration, focusing on farm trade, research, food safety, animal health, and climate-resilient agriculture.
‘Our partnership with France is important as we work to make Philippine agriculture more productive, competitive and resilient,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.
‘Stronger cooperation means greater opportunities to bring in technology, knowledge and investments that can benefit our farmers and strengthen our food systems,’ he added.
Consequently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said a major component of the partnership is the signing of a work plan to import table and seed potatoes from France.
At the same time, the Bureau of Agricultural Research advanced discussions with France’s Directorate General for Education and Research on joint agricultural research and innovation.
Talks focused on Philippine initiatives on Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture and PUNLA Pilipinas, a proposed national system for producing and distributing clean, high-quality planting materials.
Both countries also explored expanding cooperation with the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), which includes joint research, graduate education, scientific exchanges, and researcher mobility.
Potential focus areas include mango and banana production, aquaculture, agroecology, climate resilience, sustainable landscapes and emerging agricultural technologies.
To secure access to the French market, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards and its French counterparts discussed certification, labeling, traceability and conformity assessment to help Philippine organic products meet the European Union’s requirements.
Bureau of Animal Industry Director Christian Daquigan met with France’s Chief Veterinary Officer Emmanuelle Soubeyran to discuss animal health issues affecting agricultural trade, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever regionalization, Lumpy Skin Disease and changes to the European health stamp.
‘France also signaled support for training Philippine veterinary personnel in biosecurity, transboundary animal disease control, border controls and risk-based inspection,’ the agency said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine delegation likewise met with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to explore possible support for climate-resilient agriculture, research and innovation, geographical indications, organic agriculture and the marine and blue economy.