Canada has launched its most ambitious program in the Indo-Pacific, with the Philippines as the headquarters of its operations.

Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay led on Wednesday, Feb. 21, the opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office, which will serve as a hub for improving connections between Canadian stakeholders and regional partners in the agriculture industry.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman explained Ottawa chose the Philippines because the latter is "the elbow or the knee" as well as the "connective tissue" of the whole Indo-Pacific.

"The physical geography that the Philippines occupies, connecting North Asia to South Asia through here in Southeast Asia, just makes eminent sense," Hartman said.

"So it's the ideal conduit for us to be able to grow our footprint in the region," he added.

For the next five years, Canada will be allotting 32 million Canadian dollars for the operations of the said office. That is part of the 2.4 billion Canadian dollars that it has earmarked for its Indo-Pacific Strategy.

With Canada exporting half of what it is producing, MacAulay expressed confidence that its Philippine office "will play a central role in growing export markets" for its farmers and increasing their cooperation with the region.

Plans for the PH

On his first days in Manila, MacAulay already met with Filipino farmers to get insights about the local industry.

He noted the poor quality of seeds that they are using, which he saw as one of Canada's top priorities to help improve.

"The quality of seed they use, how they handle the land itself, what they use...They cost more if the genetics are poor," MacAulay said.

"[We'll] be working with the agricultural sector here in order to make sure that they have the right seed or the right genetics or whatever just to make sure there's more prosperity in the area," he added.

Canada would also like to introduce a new technology to Filipino farmers. But MacAulay, a farmer himself, said farmers would not accept new technology if they do not understand its benefit.

"What we have to be able to do is make sure that we have the appropriate technology, innovate properly," he said.

The first cohort of Canada's agriculture office's staff is already on the ground, working with partners to advance shared priorities, such as food security. 

They will also create "mutually beneficial opportunities, build on strong relationships and enhance technical cooperation, market access and trade," the Canadian embassy said.

The office's opening came as the Indo-Pacific region currently accounts for over one-third of the world's economic activity, in 2023, Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports to the region already reached 22.8 billion Canadian dollars.