Why is it difficult for the Philippines to undertake natural agriculture?

MANILA, Philippines – What would the Philippines appear to be if Filipinos totally embraced an natural way of life?

In accordance with current knowledge, Filipino customers have gotten more and more health-conscious. A 2025 report by PwC confirmed that 67% of Filipinos take into account dietary worth when shopping for meals. In the meantime, a separate research by Meals Trade Asia discovered that 99% of Filipino customers wish to follow aware consuming, with many calling on the meals trade to make more healthy choices extra accessible.

Regardless of this curiosity, natural consumption stays restricted.

Marco Schlüter, managing director for technique and worldwide affairs at Naturland e.V., shared a 2022 research by Local weather Tracker Asia that discovered that whereas 32% of Filipinos often buy natural meals merchandise, solely 25% purchase them often. This implies that consciousness doesn’t all the time translate into constant habits.

The development aligns with international progress. In accordance with a report by Grand View Analysis, the worldwide natural meals and drinks market was valued at US$231.52 billion in 2023 and is projected to achieve $564.22 billion by 2030, rising at a compound annual price (CAGR) of 13.9% from 2024 to 2030.

One of many main elements driving this progress is the rising consciousness of the well being advantages related to consuming natural merchandise. Research present that consuming natural meals can considerably scale back publicity to artificial pesticides and improve consumption of helpful compounds like antioxidants and important vitamins, that are linked to decrease power illness and most cancers dangers and higher general well being.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand has emerged as a regional chief in natural farming, with natural meals gross sales rising at an annual price of seven% from 2010 to 2014. Consultants say this means that progress is feasible, however solely when shopper demand, market entry, and authorities assist are aligned.

However within the Philippines, a number of structural obstacles forestall the nation from maintaining tempo.

Seeing inexperienced

Alexandra Castillo, promotions coordinator and natural meals improvement officer at Naturland e.V, shared with Rappler that the nation’s largest problem lies in bridging the hole between shopper curiosity and precise entry to natural meals.

“If we’re market courses, the motivations are totally different. For the higher class, well being is the principle issue — they’re extra aware of what goes into their our bodies and have a tendency to hunt out more healthy choices. For on a regular basis Filipinos, who’ve much less buying energy, what makes probably the most sense is the livelihood or social influence — realizing that farmers are pretty compensated and communities profit,” she mentioned.

Customers additionally affiliate natural merchandise with safer manufacturing practices, however Castillo famous that many nonetheless battle to seek out licensed choices. Entry is proscribed, labeling is commonly unclear, and costs rise as merchandise go by a number of middlemen.

She mentioned that continued demand is essential for supporting our farmers and the communities behind natural manufacturing. “It’s not only for me, but it surely’s for the folks behind the precise meals…. After we pray earlier than meals, thanks for the individuals who made it. At the least now, there’s context. Who’s that particular person?” she mentioned.

But she emphasised that selecting natural is a type of care and duty that goes past well being. “After they say natural, which means it’s with out the buzzword of sustainable. It’s truly you selecting to take care of your self and also you extending that empathy to the folks that present for you,” she mentioned.

Planting the seeds

Collaboration throughout the meals system is crucial to increasing natural agriculture within the Philippines. Customers first must demand natural merchandise, which can urge retailers to broaden entry. These retailers will then work intently with authorities businesses to successfully implement current insurance policies.

Total, farmers and advocates ought to take the lead.

“There are insurance policies now, but it surely’s not totally applied, but it offers much more gateway,” Castillo added. Schooling and consciousness are additionally key in selling natural agriculture, each for the buyer and our farmers.

Castillo mentioned worldwide organizations like Naturland e.V. play a key function on this motion. The group includes over 128,000 farmers, fishers, beekeepers, and aquaculture producers in 61 nations, in addition to 1,780 companions in processing and commerce.

As a result of restricted market entry stays one of many largest obstacles for natural farmers within the Philippines, greater organizations want to assist enhance each the manufacturing scale and advertising and marketing of those rural communities. In flip, this may also assist decrease costs, making natural meals extra accessible to Filipinos.

Don’t panic, it’s natural

Earlier than shopping for something that’s labeled “natural”, customers must know first what makes one thing actually “natural,” particularly since these merchandise come at larger costs.

In accordance with Naturland e.V., natural farming is the one manufacturing system ruled by authorities laws throughout all main international markets, although requirements differ by area. Certification requires farms to satisfy strict standards and endure common monitoring, which contributes to larger manufacturing prices.

Natural merchandise don’t use chemical pesticides or artificial fertilizers, antibiotics are severely restricted, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will not be allowed, and crops are rotated to keep up soil well being. These practices make natural farming extra labor-intensive and intently supervised in comparison with standard agriculture; therefore, the upper costs.

Castillo defined that these necessities are designed to guard shopper well being and protect ecosystems, whereas additionally enhancing long-term farm resilience. Natural farming, she mentioned, can provide more healthy meals choices, scale back environmental influence, and strengthen agriculture’s skill to adapt to local weather change.

It additionally pays to be aware of certification labels that establish authentic natural merchandise. In Europe, for instance, the European Union’s (EU) natural emblem ensures that EU guidelines on natural farming have been adhered to. Comparable certification methods exist in different areas, although entry to licensed merchandise stays uneven within the Philippines.

The Division of Agriculture has additionally been selling natural farming domestically for its sustainability and meals security advantages. Nonetheless, advocates say that wider entry, clearer labeling, and stronger coverage implementation are nonetheless wanted for natural practices to take root nationwide. – Rappler.com

Alfon Cabanilla is a Rappler intern learning AB Communication at Ateneo de Manila College.