Five emerging Filipino agribusiness enterprises took their innovations to the international stage during the Asia-Pacific Agrifood Innovation Summit 2026, aiming to attract investors, establish business partnerships, and explore new markets for Philippine agricultural products.
The startups, supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) under its Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) program, participated in the summit held from October 27 to 29 at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore.
The Philippine delegation was organized by the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service in partnership with the Philippine Agriculture Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
The participating enterprises, L’Reinvente, CHER Cacao Products Manufacturing, Bluecrust Food Manufacturing, Aelius, and Y’Nut Food Products, highlighted how locally available agricultural resources can be transformed into innovative, commercially viable products.
L’Reinvente presented skincare products developed from agricultural by-products, combining waste reduction with livelihood opportunities for farmers and underserved communities.
Negros Oriental-based CHER Cacao Products Manufacturing promoted its locally sourced, bean-to-bar chocolates, demonstrating the potential of Philippine cacao in the specialty chocolate market.
Bluecrust Food Manufacturing showcased processed products derived from crustaceans, while Aelius highlighted wellness products made from various parts of the coconut, emphasizing sustainable production and support for coconut farmers.
Y’Nut Food Products introduced nutritious food products made from locally grown peanuts, demonstrating opportunities to increase the commercial value of domestic agricultural produce.
Aside from displaying their products, the Filipino entrepreneurs connected with prospective investors, industry leaders, and potential business partners from across the Asia-Pacific region.
They also attended discussions on emerging developments in food production, including biomanufacturing, regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and traceability technologies.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who participated as a featured speaker, outlined the Philippines’ initiatives to strengthen agricultural value chains through innovation, investment, resilience, and closer cooperation between government and the private sector.
“We also brought young Filipino agripreneurs to the Singapore event to introduce them to a wider market, and expose them to innovations and fresh ideas they can bring home, adapt and develop into viable businesses that create jobs and attract more investment in agriculture,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA also staged the “Innovating Agriculture: Young Farmers Challenge Pitching Showcase,” providing the five enterprises with an opportunity to present their business concepts and products to an international audience at the summit’s Innovation Stage.
DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra highlighted the contribution of young entrepreneurs in developing sustainable agricultural products and connecting Philippine agriculture with regional and international markets.
She said the participating startups demonstrated how innovation and entrepreneurship could generate additional value from local agricultural resources while creating economic opportunities for farming communities.
The initiative forms part of the DA’s efforts to encourage more young Filipinos to pursue agribusiness ventures and introduce modern approaches to agricultural production, processing, and marketing.
It also reflects the government’s broader push to move Philippine agriculture beyond traditional commodity production by promoting value-added products, stronger market connections, and investment-driven growth.
By providing young entrepreneurs with international exposure, the DA seeks to help promising agricultural enterprises expand their operations, improve their competitiveness, and contribute to employment generation and higher incomes for Filipino farmers.
