Enhancing the agricultural sector is integral to the advancement of the national economy. In line with this, MBC has been actively collaborating with the private and public sector to support agricultural cooperatives within the industry. Through strategic partnerships, MBC seeks to promote sustainable development and ensure equitable profit distribution across the agricultural value chain.
KEY INITIATIVES OF THE ADVOCACY
STRENGTHENING COOPERATIVES
MBC recognizes the vital role that agricultural cooperatives play in the industry. As these cooperatives continue to face various challenges, MBC is committed to connecting them with its members and partners to help address existing gaps and further strengthen their contributions to the agricultural sector.
LOGISTICS & FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Agricultural logistics and food distribution in the Philippines continue to be hindered by various structural barriers. In response, MBC, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, actively advocates for improved logistics coordination and the development of adequate storage facilities to strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.
AGRITECH
The adoption and scaling of agricultural technology by farming cooperatives remains to be challenging due to gaps in digital literacy, limited resources, and resistance to change. Despite these barriers, MBC seeks to bridge these gaps by connecting cooperatives with agri-tech partners and supporting digital literacy training programs.
ADOPT-A-COOPERATIVE PROJECT
MBC is inviting qualified rice groups based in Luzon to apply for the Adopt-a-Cooperative Program. This is part of MBC’s efforts to help farmers build stronger and more sustainable organizations.
The selected cooperative will gain access to:
- Training and mentoring on business management, financial planning, marketing, and the use of technology to improve productivity.
- Connections with MBC members, partner organizations, other cooperatives, and government agencies for support and market opportunities.
- Access to resources that can help adopt modern farming technology, improve efficiency, and adapt to changing market and climate conditions.
This program is a pilot of MBC’s Agriculture Advocacy – which aims to provide private sector interventions by supporting farmers through capacity-building, improvement of supply chains, and encourage adoption of inclusive technology.
DEADLINE IS ON NOVEMBER 30, 2025
MOU SIGNING: IMDALSA, NATCCO, and MBC
The Makati Business Club is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between IMDALSA Agrarian Reform Cooperative, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), and MBC. This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to strengthening cooperatives through training.
PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENTS
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENTS
2024 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY SUMMIT
Held on September 16, 2024, MBC organized the Agriculture and Food Security Summit 2024, focusing on advancing food security and agricultural sustainability. The summit aimed to establish working groups within the business sector and empower agricultural cooperatives to enhance productivity and strengthen the value chain. These efforts are aligned with the broader vision of lowering food prices and ensuring national food security. Through this initiative, MBC reaffirms its commitment to supporting the growth of the agriculture sector by helping uplift smallholder farmers across the country.
WORKING WITH AGREA FOUNDATION
In the first MBC Agriculture and Food Security Summit held in 2024, MBC and AGREA Foundation signified their commitment to empowering women food producers through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in support of the Foundation’s Women Food Producers Association (WFPA). This partnership demonstrates their hopes to promote inclusive growth for women food producers and raise the income of our farmers. It aligns with MBC’s broader goal not only to advance the agricultural sector but to promote gender inclusive policies and practices in workplaces through its Women in C-Suite Committee.
Agrea Foundation’s Director of community development and programs Christine Jodloman talks about their program that places women at the heart of food systems transformation, tackling hunger and malnutrition not just with handouts or policies, but through dignified and community-led leadership. (READ: “From caretakers to changemakers,” 03 July 2025)
LATEST MBC ARTICLES
PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE IN THE NEWS
Philippine competition body eyeing P2.4-B fine versus 12 onion traders
THE PHILIPPINE Competition Commission (PCC) has recommended a P2.4-billion fine for anti-competitive behavior against 12 importers that allegedly controlled more than half of the country’s onion imports at the height of the onion crisis more than a year ago, the presidential palace said on Sunday.
‘Malunggay’ for food security
Since food security is a key mandate of the Department of Agriculture (DA), promoting moringa (or “malunggay”) must also be its priority. This is important because of our alarming malnutrition problem.
Philippines secures nearly P5 billion for agricultural chain value development
The Philippines has secured almost P5 billion in financing from a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at improving the agricultural value chain in several agrarian reform communities.
PHL household food waste falls sharply to nearly 3 million tonnes a year — UNEP
PHILIPPINE households wasted nearly 3 million tonnes of food a year, down sharply from 2021 totals, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report.
