Mandaluyong City – PCARRD boosted its regional science and technology (S&T) products by showcasing them at the 9th Philippine Food Expo hosted by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc. (Philfoodex) at the SM Megatrade Halls on February 25–28.
With the theme “Building a global market through quality Philippine food products”, the expo promotes quality food products that can compete in the global market.
Philfoodex President Roberto C. Amores says that the expo also highlights food exports and can forge and strengthen alliances among exporters and producers.
A total of 197 booths showcased different food and food-related products, 46 are from exporting companies. These include the Mega Fishing Corporation, Agrinurture Inc, and the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines.
Amores is proud that these exhibitors have created markets abroad. These entrepreneurs export Philippine products to the United States of America, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the Middle East, and in some European countries.
Meanwhile, 140 booths are from small and medium scale entrepreneurs like Aqua Primera, Dutch Windmill Foods, and Golden Arrow. Also, 11 booths feature food-related products such as Metrowealth, and El Kapitan Food Enterprises.
S&T products from the regions
Amores says that quality food products can be sustained through good quality materials from farmers. He adds that this can be done through proactive government collaboration with the private sector and the producers.
PCARRD is one of the government agencies that address this need. As a leader in S&T innovation in agriculture, forestry, and natural resources, PCARRD helped farmers/entrepreneurs develop their products through its TechnoMart Program. TechnoMart involves the holistic process that includes farming/production, research and development, up to packaging and marketing.
The PCARRD booth in the expo featured products from eight of its regional consortia. They are the Turubudan cashew wine of the Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, the Cordillera coffee of the Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, McNester mango products of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, Donna Belle coco sugar and syrup of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, Bohol’s Tru Ubi Powder of the Central Visayas Consortium for Integrated Regional Research and Development, Awric Alacala Peanuts of the Cagayan Valley Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, President Quirino muscovado of the Cotobato Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, and Pinoy Fries of the Visayas Consortium of Agricultural Resources Program.
With the high quality of the PCARRD products, preliminary negotiations of different manufacturers and buyers with the Council’s regional producers were made during the expo. These negotiations are still ongoing as of press time.