While the previous administration’s attempt to aggressively promote Chinese investments met stiff opposition, Senator Pangilinan said there must be a way to develop eight million hectares of the Philippines' idle forest lands.
Part of the produce would go to local markets of producing countries, which have to provide necessary protection to Saudi investors through long-term agreements. A first such agreement was signed with the Philippines in February 2010.
Land deals, whether as direct purchases or long-term leases, are being brokered in poor countries by advanced capitalist countries and their TNCs
Investors are taking advantage of cheap land resources from poorer countries whose populations are even more food insecure.
Efforts must be made to ensure that foreign access to local agricultural lands follow strict guidelines
Groups in the Philippines call on the government to review agreements with foreign investors allowing a lease of agricultural lands for food and biofuel production.
Farmers say land deal will nullify their long-standing efforts for land distribution.
Some projects aimed at increasing food production in Asia have been dropped or delayed amid the financial crisis, notes a new report by IRRI and the Asia Society.
The Philippine government has identified 10,000 ha for the Bahrain banana project in Davao del Norte. It also awaits follow-up visits from Saudi Arabia to finalize a $238.6m deal the kingdom committed to invest in fruit, aquaculture and halal food production.
Saudi and UK investors will travel to the Philippines in October to discuss "the possibility of food production in southern Philippines, with the government providing them the needed land".
A group of food security advocates wants a Philippine government-led corporation that identifies new land suitable for local and foreign agricultural businesses abolished.
ANI is one of the few accredited companies that have the capacity and license to export fresh mango to Japan and Korea.
