About Agrilink
The Year That Was:
Plant Health and Value Adding for Global Competitiveness at AgriLink 2023
Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink 2023 stood as a pivotal event in advancing the Philippines’ agriculture, food, aquaculture, and agribusiness industries, centered around the theme of plant health and value adding. Last year’s exhibition, under the expert guidance of Agrilink 2023 chairman Ricardo Tolentino, showcased how strategic, holistic cultivation and technological advancements in high-value crops like mangoes can dramatically enhance market competitiveness.
Agrilink 2023 provided a comprehensive platform not only for showcasing products but also for demonstrating modern technologies and practices in plant health that have proven to improve quality and yield and profitability.
The event, hosted at the World Trade Center, attracted a turnout of 18,000 visitors who explored the vast array of innovations spread across 10,800 square meters of indoor and 4,000 square meters of outdoor exhibition space. It featured more than 269 exhibitors, including 33 international entities from countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, South Africa, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and China, underlining Agrilink’s international reach.
Active participation of the Department of Agriculture and various government agencies underscored how collaborative efforts can promote advanced, sustainable agricultural practices and technologies. The presence of key figures in the public and private sectors, along with other dignitaries from other countries, added gravitas to the event, emphasizing the critical role of agriculture in national and global economic stability.
Reflecting on Agrilink 2023, the event not only highlighted the latest innovations but also set the stage for future developments that can enhance the productivity, sustainability, and profitability of the agricultural sector.
AGRILINK TURNS 29
The Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development proudly marks nearly three decades of unwavering commitment to empowering the Philippine agriculture, food, and aquaculture industries. As Agrilink turns 29, it continues to inspire and spearhead transformative changes within the industry, serving as a platform for the private and public sectors to provide innovations and opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers across the globe.
The Theme:
The Best of Philippine Agri to the World
This year, Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink proudly unveils the theme, “The Best of Philippine Agri to the World,” highlighting the Philippines thrust to boost agri-exports. The theme focuses on the nation’s top food and non-food agriculture-based exports and underscores the economic benefits these provide and the best practices that make these globally competitive.
For example, the Philippine coconut industry, long celebrated as a pillar of national agricultural exports, contributed immensely to the economy with exports reaching US$3.2 billion in 2022, accounting for 43% of the nation’s total agricultural exports. And an increasing percentage of coconut production is converted to higher value products like virgin coconut, coconut water, oleochemicals and biodiesel.
The Philippines has also been the second largest exporter of bananas in the world for six consecutive years since 2016. In 2023, the country earned US$1.22 billion exporting bananas. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also reported that the country remains the second largest exporter of pineapples in the world. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the country generated US$759.63 million exporting pineapple and pineapple-based products in 2022.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also reported that the country is now among the world’s top 10 exporters of tuna, earning US$401 million in 2022, with canned tuna constituting the bulk of exported products. The UN’s FAO also reported that the Philippines is the fourth largest global exporter of seaweeds, from which carrageenan is derived. In 2022, the Philippine seaweed industry generated US$350 million in exports.
These export products illustrate that with the best practices and efficiency across the value chain, Philippine crops can attain global competitiveness. Efficiency in the value chain involves holistic agricultural practices and technologies that maximize yield and minimize postharvest losses. It also encompasses innovations in processing that add value to raw agricultural products, maximum utilization of the total crop by transforming them into goods that are ready for global markets and can command higher value. Additionally, a streamlined value chain ensures that regulatory compliance and quality standards are met consistently, which is essential for maintaining market access and fostering the trust of international consumers.
By optimizing value-adding and processing, the agri-exports also increases job creation and income generation for farmers, fisherfolk, and people engaged in agribusiness, while maximizing revenue per ton produced and mitigates our trade imbalance.
Agrilink’s theme, “The Best of Philippine Agri to the World,” will showcase the best of what the country has to offer to the world — while as it does every year, Agrilink 2024 will be a platform that will showcase the richness and the quality of Philippine agri-products, emphasizing the country’s efforts in enhancing agricultural practices and technologies that cater to the demands of the global market.
Address
Foundation For Resource Linkage and Development, Inc.
Rm. 102 G/F, Sample Shop Bldg.,
AFP-RSBS Industrial Park,
East Service Road, Bicutan
Taguig City, Philippines
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Phone: (63 2) 8838-4605, 8527-4606, 8256-3590
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