The Philippines is looking beyond fisheries in its renewed engagement with Papua New Guinea, with agriculture officials discussing possible cooperation on large-scale rice production and affordable fertilizer sourcing as Manila continues to strengthen food security.
On the sidelines of the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby, the Philippine delegation led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Papua New Guinea’s Department of Agriculture and Livestock to explore collaboration in rice production and fertilizer supply for Filipino farmers.
Both sides also recognized the need to renegotiate and update the 2018 Philippines-Papua New Guinea Memorandum of Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation to modernize and expand bilateral agricultural trade.
The 2018 agreement covered cooperation in rice and grain production, coconut, coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, agribusiness, aquaculture, inland fish farming, livestock breeding, post-harvest development, and training on biosecurity and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Its rice component was particularly ambitious. Under the earlier arrangement, the Philippines helped establish a rice demonstration or model farm in PNG, deployed Filipino farm technicians, and explored the development of large tracts of land for rice production. The concept was for output to first serve PNG’s domestic needs, with any surplus potentially exported to the Philippines.
The renewed talks come as food security remains a priority for the Marcos administration, with rice prices, fertilizer costs, climate shocks, and supply disruptions continuing to affect Filipino households and farmers.
For the Philippines, Papua New Guinea presents a possible long-term partner in agricultural production because of its available land, geographic proximity, and existing fisheries relationship with Manila. For PNG, Philippine expertise in rice farming, farm technology, aquaculture, and post-harvest systems could support its own food self-sufficiency goals.
The discussions also show how food security diplomacy is increasingly being linked with fisheries diplomacy. The Philippines has long relied on Pacific waters, including PNG’s tuna-rich fishing grounds, for part of the supply chain that supports its tuna industry. In turn, agricultural cooperation — particularly in rice technology and farm development — can deepen trust and broaden the economic relationship between the two countries.
If successfully revived and implemented, the updated agriculture agreement could benefit PNG farmers through technology transfer and production support, while opening opportunities for Philippine agribusiness companies, farm technicians, and eventually consumers if surplus rice becomes available for export.
However, the benefits will depend on clear implementation. Large-scale offshore rice production will require transparent land arrangements, viable infrastructure, financing, logistics, and safeguards to ensure that local communities in PNG also benefit.
The fertilizer discussions are also significant for Filipino farmers, who remain vulnerable to global fertilizer price spikes driven by energy costs, shipping disruptions, and geopolitical tensions. Any reliable and affordable fertilizer sourcing arrangement could help reduce production costs, although no specific volume, price, or supply commitment has been announced.
The Port Moresby talks suggest that the Philippines is seeking to diversify its food security options, not only by importing when needed, but by building longer-term production partnerships with countries that can complement Philippine agricultural needs.