RP seeks $140 million from G8's $20-billion food production fund

By Marianne V. Go

MANILA, Philippines - The government will seek up to $140 million in funding from the $20-billion Food Production Fund of the Group of Eight (G8) nations for two projects involving food production and climate change.

The first project involves a $120-million joint program to be implemented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for the development and distribution of climate-ready seeds.

The second, with a lower funding need of $20 million, is for a joint Philippine-US geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing project which will allow production planners a smarter way to implement food production, coastal and municipal fisheries and climate change adaptation programs.


The US is now applying a new framework in addressing global food security wherein farm productivity is improved rather than traditionally extending just emergency assistance.

US President Barack Obama and fellow G8 leaders recently unveiled the fund on the last day of their summit in Italy to help feed people in developing countries and extend aid to economies most vulnerable to the global financial crisis.

The G8 is comprised of the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy , Japan , Russia, as well as the European Union.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap relayed the funding request to US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week in Washington.

According to Yap, Philrice and IRRI are presently collaborating on testing and distributing seeds, that are, among others, resistant to the salinity in rice production areas near coastal communities that have been saline-invaded or drought-prone areas that will require 30 percent to 40 percent less water than what regular variety rice plants need.

Yap revealed the project is not proceeding as swiftly as it should since it is currently confined to field trials only.

To accelerate the project’s implementation, Yap said additional funds are required to acquire modern facilities that can undertake stress analysis in controlled conditions.

Meanwhile, the joint RP-US GIS and remote sensing project will allow production planners a smarter way to implement food production, coastal and municipal fisheries and climate change adaptation programs.

Aside from the two projects, Yap and Vilsack also discussed possible investments in the biofuels and biotechnology sectos as well as in food production.

Yap noted, the US appears keen on “using the Philippines as a staging ground for exports to the region for food and bio-technology.”

"The funding could help the Philippines on its combat to adopt on climate change."

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