Phl, France to ink agri, food security agreement

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and France are set to enter into a bilateral cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening both countries’ thrust on food security and sustainable agriculture.

The signing of the bilateral agreement will be led by French Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Laurent Legodec and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

The bilateral agreement seeks to strengthen communication and cooperation between the two countries in areas of sustainable agricultural practices, public policies on food safety, development of the livestock sector, and the joint development of technical cooperation projects.

“This will demonstrate the diversity of the relations between France and the Philippines, where science, agriculture, and sustainable development are becoming increasingly important areas of cooperation between our two countries,” Legodec said.

He added that the strengthening of bilateral institutional relations would enhance partnerships in the short-term by increasing the mobility of scientists and students, as well as developing capacity-building programs.

The signing ceremony will be the culmination of a Philippine-France forum on agriculture, an event which gathers over 200 Filipino and French researchers and experts to discuss and propose concrete, science-based leads and recommendations to policymakers on specific agricultural issues.

It aims to bridge both socio-economic and environmental gaps while demonstrating the benefits of scientific collaboration between France and the Philippines.

Several French scientists have been involved in projects on ecological intensification, agricultural conservation, emerging diseases, and animal health in the Philippines.

French officials will also discuss with the International Rice Research Institute, the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture.