Jardine Distribution expands into biotech, animal feed businesses

MANILA, Philippines - Jardine Distribution Inc. (JDI), a unit of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd., which distributes local and foreign-made pesticides, crop protection products, and applied construction products such as wood preservative, is expanding its reach to biotechnology and animal feeds.

“We are expanding our coverage. Right now, we are just focused on crop protection. We want to explore other aspects of agriculture such as biotechnology, animal feeds,” said JDI president and general manager Edwin Hernandez. “We are introducing new products and are also scouting for potential acquisitions but I cannot reveal them at this point because they are still under discussion.”

JDI is engaged in the marketing and distribution of agricultural products, applied construction materials, and home pest solutions. It distributes its products through a network of authorized distributors and dealers nationwide.

Its agricultural product range includes insecticides, molluscicides, herbicides and fungicides as well as other inputs such as plant nutrition products, soil conditioner, growth regulators and hybrid seeds.

Its applied construction chemical product range includes wood preservatives, soil termiticides, waterproofing, cement add mixtures and home pest products.

JDI’s flagship product Solignum, a wood preservative, is manufactured in a facility in Canlubang, Laguna which has 50 t0 60 employees. In its wood preservative segment, JDI has cornered 90 percent of the market.

Hernandez said new pesticide brands would also be developed. He said at least two new products will be launched every year. He said demand is rising in central Luzon, Panay and southern Mindanao, particularly in Davao.