SAI Philippines now a member of Food Chamber

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative-Philippines has reached another landmark in its efforts of promoting sustainable agriculture practices in the country with its recent membership to the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. (PCFMI)

The organization counts the country’s leading food manufacturing companies and other establishments and groups concerned with the value chain of food products among its members.

“We welcome SAI-Philipines’ membership in our organization,” said PCFMI president Pamela Forshage. “We believe that we both share the goal of advocating practices and programs that will greatly benefit the country’s food industry.”

SAI-Philippines head Rudy Trillanes, meanwhile, said that their organization’s membership to the PCFMI is “a great step in fleshing out the group’s vision of encouraging the private sector to take an active stance in helping the country’s food sector.”

He explained, “We believe that SAI-Philippines’ inclusion in the PCFMI will help us reach out to more companies that will help us achieve our goal of promoting the practice of sustainable agriculture. With impending crisis on food shortage brought about by factors such as climate change and the population boom, sustainability becomes more and more relevant especially in the agricultural sector. Through sustainable agriculture, we are ensured of supply for the future as it aims to improve both quantity and quality of yield while being mindful of preserving environmental resources. Sustainable Agriculture upholds both the interests of commercial groups as well as the local communities, they partner with.”

The first SAI was founded in Europe in 1996 by food manufacturing companies Nestle Switzerland, S.A. Danone and Unilever.

It was formed with the aim of supporting agricultural practices and production systems that help preserve the future availability of current resources and enhance their efficiency.

It is also SAI’s goal to help improve farmers’ productivity through livelihood programs as well as land, soil and water conservation.

In 2006, Nestle Philippines, Inc. initiated the establishment of SAI’s Philippine chapter.

During SAIP’s first convention, representatives from leading food manufacturing companies as well as those from the government and non-government organizations were in attendance.

SAIP has since had two regroup sessions, the latest of which was last December 2007. Here, participants discussed the activities and projects that SAIP should look into the future.