An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today hosted a high-level Food Security Dialogue with the Philippines Department of Agriculture that showcased critical bilateral efforts to address global food security and climate change.
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor and Philippines Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla chaired an interagency meeting with representatives from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The dialogue highlighted partnerships and programming that support food security in the Philippines and promote international endeavors to reduce the impact of climate change.
Under Secretary Taylor unveiled two new efforts to further U.S.-Philippine cooperation:
“The United States and the Philippines have a long history of cooperation and partnership in identifying and implementing solutions to help tackle challenges impacting our citizens, our countries, and the world,” said Under Secretary Taylor. “The potential impacts of food insecurity and climate change elevate the urgency of our continued collaboration and I’m pleased that the United States has such a strong and committed partner in the Philippines as we seek to ensure a more resilient future for generations to come.”
After the meeting, the members of the delegation travelled to USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center to explore biotechnology research intended to improve productivity in the face of a changing climate.
The Dialogue explored several ongoing U.S. projects in the Philippines that enhance food security, including:
The United States and the Philippines are also active participants in a series of global efforts to combat climate change, including the Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition, Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate, the Global Methane Pledge, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Under Secretary Sombilla will also participate in the upcoming AIM for Climate Ministerial, May 8-10, in Washington.
Today’s Food Security Dialogue delivers on the Biden Harris Administration’s commitments made during discussions between President Joseph R. Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in October 2022, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit in November 2022 to the Philippines. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Marcos highlighted the importance of global food security and agricultural trade at a May 1 bilateral meeting during President Marcos’s visit to Washington this week.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.