The Philippines is expanding its agricultural cooperation with Japan following an amendment to a bilateral agreement aimed at promoting fisheries and technology transfer, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In a statement, the DA said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel signed an agreement with Japanese Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki enhancing the 2023 memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on agriculture between the two countries.

Tiu Laurel said the new agreement comes at a crucial time for the Philippines as it seeks to raise both farm and fishery productivity amid growing food demand while costs continue to rise to unprecedented levels.

"Food security is not just about producing more crops. It is about building resilient food systems from farms to fishing grounds, embracing technology, and ensuring our farmers and fisherfolk can remain productive despite growing challenges," he said.

The upgraded MOC now includes fisheries in the bilateral cooperation, which the DA said reflects the growing importance of the sector in the country's food security and job creation agenda.

The agreement is expected to support the sustainability of the fisheries sector amid mounting pressures from climate change, resource depletion, and rising operational costs.

Under the MOC, both the Philippines and Japan agreed to establish a Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (JCAF) that will serve as a venue for the two countries to discuss joint policies, project development, and technical cooperation.

The DA said the JCAF is set to hold its first meeting in July, with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) serving as host in Tokyo.

The new MOC also elevates the relationship between the two countries beyond traditional agricultural exchanges to include mechanization, smart farming, digital transformation, climate resilience, value-chain enhancement, and pest and disease management.

Tokyo-based Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang said accelerating technology transfer between the two trading partners would also help encourage innovation, which is becoming increasingly important to food security.

"The new MOC also includes the promotion of innovation, including smart technology and digital transformation, for improving productivity in the Philippine agriculture and food systems," she said.

The DA said the local agriculture sector will gain greater access to Japanese expertise in precision agriculture, fisheries management, post-harvest technologies, and food systems modernization under the MOC. (Dexter Barro II)