LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Philippines is taking a significant step to expand into the lucrative organic export market with a project titled "Market Assessment of Selected Organic Export Crops in the Philippines," aimed at assessing market opportunities for selected organic crops.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP), has embarked on the mission to unlock the potential of the country's organic agriculture industry.
The legal basis for the initiative is Republic Act (RA) 10068, the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which was later amended by RA 11511 to establish a comprehensive organic agriculture program, focusing on promoting and commercializing organic farming through the NOAP.
SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said the initiative is a timely response to the country's limited participation in the global organic export market, currently accounting for less than 1 percent of the country's total agricultural output, with only 589 hectares under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and third-party certification.
Sombilla emphasized the importance of generating evidence-based insights to guide the development of the country's organic agriculture sector.
"The lack of comprehensive data on market opportunities and constraints has hindered the growth of the organic sector," she said. "This project aims to bridge that gap and provide a roadmap for the industry's future development."
The project, with a funding of P6 million, will focus on five target organic crops: mango, banana, pineapple, purple yam (ube), and coconut. Through a thorough market assessment, the research team aims to identify opportunities for expanding organic production and increasing the country's export capacity.
The duration of the project is from March 2 to Dec. 31, 2026.
"The results of this study will provide strong evidence of market potential to encourage conventional producers to transition to organic farming systems," said Bates Bathan, one of the project's lead researchers. "This is a critical step towards promoting sustainable agriculture practices and improving the livelihoods of Filipino farmers."
The project is expected to benefit not only farmers but also rural enterprises and the broader agricultural industry. By strengthening the country's participation in high-value organic markets, the initiative aims to contribute to the growth and development of rural communities.
SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration Rico Ancog expressed his optimism about the project's potential impact.
"The insights gathered during this study will be critical in shaping the direction of the organic agriculture industry in the Philippines," he said. "We look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the success of this initiative."
The project will involve a series of activities, including stakeholder consultations, market surveys, and data analysis. The research team will also develop guidelines for monitoring and evaluation, intellectual property and technology transfer, and research ethics.
Sombilla said the project was formally launched last March 16 at the SEARCA headquarters in Los Baños, attended by representatives from DA-BAR, NOAP, and SEARCA.
Rowell Dikitanan, SEARCA Project Development and Technical Services Unit head, presented the project background, objectives, and expected outputs, while SEARCA Program Specialist Ma. Christina Corales presented the key agreements and action points between SEARCA and DA-BAR.
DA-NOAP Director Bernadette San Juan highlighted the importance of the project in determining which value chains offer the best opportunities for Philippine organic exports.
As the project moves forward, SEARCA said stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the results, which are expected to inform strategies and investments aimed at improving farmer livelihoods, strengthening rural enterprises, and expanding the Philippines' participation in the global organic market.