To strengthen collaboration in advancing organic agriculture, the Department of Agriculture-National Organic Agriculture Program (DA-NOAP) led the 18th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC) attended by hundreds of farmers, researchers, representatives of government and nongovernment organizations, private sector partners, and industry stakeholders nationwide.
With the theme, “Kabuhayang OA, Kinabukasang OK: Halina at Kumita sa Organikong Agrikultura!,” the NOAC is held as part of the 11th Organic Agriculture Month celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on November 18–19, 2025.
To further highlight the profitability and sustainability of organic farming, participants also joined farm visits across Negros Region on November 20, gaining firsthand insights into successful organic practices and enterprises.
In his message delivered by DA-Western Visayas Regional Technical Director Zarlina Cuello, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored that the NOAC theme reflects the vision of Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas, a future where sustainable livelihoods thrive, communities grow resilient, and a greener, healthier nation is within reach.
“Organic agriculture is more than a method, it is a promise to our health, our land, and the generations to come,” Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized.
The event featured six plenary sessions that covered the following topics:
1) strengthening communities through organic agriculture;
2) sharing of best practices and organic agriculture technologies by national and local government units;
3) organic technologies for selected crops;
4) technology innovations in biofertilizers and organic soil amendments;
5) Organic technologies: Innovations from Slow Food and Naturland; and
6) sharing of technologies on organic feed formulation.
“Organic agriculture has proven itself sa lupa, sa merkado, at sa buhay ng mga Pilipinong nagsusumikap araw-araw. Meron pong kita at kinabukasan sa organikong agrikultura, pero alam po natin na hindi sapat ang production lamang. To unlock the full potential of organic agriculture, we need deeper understanding of market dynamics, stronger supply chain systems, and more effective branding and positioning. We are working hard to strengthening these areas,” Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said.
The congress also featured an extensive trade fair and exhibit, giving various organic farmer associations and agri-businesses a platform to showcase their high-quality organic produce and products to national and international audiences.
“The DA, through the NOAP, is committed to strengthening this sector. With programs that provide livelihood projects, capacity-building, support for women and youth in agriculture, and market development, we are laying the groundwork for an organic industry that is not only viable but competitive. But government efforts alone will not be enough. What we need is what this Congress represents: unity and collaboration among farmers, researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness,” NOAP Director Bernadette San Juan said.
The 2025 NOAC welcomed international leaders including Marco Schluter, Managing Director for Strategy and International Affairs of Naturland and Vice President of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)–Organics International, and Jennifer Chang, Executive Director of IFOAM Organics Asia. Local leaders such as Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, and DA officials from Western Visayas and Negros Island Region (NIR) also joined the event, underscoring the strong partnership between government, communities, and global networks in advancing organic agriculture.
In collaboration with DA-NOAP, DA-Western Visayas, and DA-NIR, the 2025 NOAC was made possible through the support of Naturland and the local government units of Negros Occidental, Talisay, and Silay. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin-Rosas, DA-AFID)
