Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, Hon. Randeep Sarai, on November 13, 2025 in Makati City to reaffirm the two countries’ strong agricultural cooperation and explore new avenues for partnership.
The meeting centered on trade and investment opportunities. Canada expressed interest in supporting the Philippines in cacao and coffee development, climate-resilient agriculture, IUU-fishing monitoring, and regulatory capacity-building.
On dairy cooperation, National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Atty. Marcus Andaya outlined the Philippines’ interest in Canadian dairy genetics, semen, live animals, and knowledge exchange on farm conditions and cow comfort.
The Department is constructing a new rice fortification plant and seeks Canada’s guidance on expanding fortification to other products, stressing the importance of a resilient supply chain for fortification inputs and technology.
Secretary Tiu Laurel was joined by Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros, NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius T. Andaya, Assistant Secretary de Mesa, Bureau of Animal Industry Director Christian Daquigan, and the International Affairs Division of the Policy Research Service. The Canadian delegation included Ambassador David Hartman and representatives from the Ministry and the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office. ### (Photos by Joseph Henry Elamparo, DA-AFID)
