Philippines

The country’s sovereign wealth fund signed an MOU with the CP Group laying the groundwork for the establishment of of a $1 billion private equity fund that will target agriculture, food production, digital innovation and green energy.

Agricultural workers and a legal advocacy group have raised concerns over a “fast-tracked” bill seeking to extend land lease terms for foreign investors to nearly a century, warning of its potential negative impact on farmers, plantation workers and indigenous cultural communities.

President of the Philippines says CP Group committed an additional USD1.5 billion in investments to the country, starting with a 10,000-hectare modernized mega farm, during meeting at the presidential palace.

Farmers cried out for help on Tuesday, July 23, as a P2-billion palm oil plantation project threatened to displace them and their families in three villages in Negros Occidental, Philippines.

The Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. (MPAV) led by business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is eyeing to set up a 500-hectare corn plantation in Northern Samar province, Philippines

The group, which has a dairy joint venture with Israel's LR Group, says it intends to increase its dairy capacity and invest in a 3,000-hectare property in Mindoro to "plant corn for cows" and for other purposes.

Maharlika will convert 2 million hectares of "idle government land" to agro-industrial estates, where foreign investors will be invited to build facilities

Farm Fresh is actively seeking to lease land spanning 200 to 400 hectares to construct a $20-million farm to breed cattle, preferably in Southern Luzon.

The consolidation of smallholding farms has long been taking place in advance of so-called economies of scale — but instead of benefiting farmers, this has so far benefited only land-grabbers.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should allow lands given to agrarian reform beneficiaries be leased by bigger corporations that are into agribusiness, a business leader said Thursday.

Charoen Pokphand Group requests government assistance in finding 400-hectares of suitable land for aquaculture (shrimp) and 300 hectares for swine and poultry, including eggs.

It seems that companies are readying their joint ventures in anticipation of the approval of Charter Change under the current administration of the Government of the Philippines.