Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday highlighted the expanded food security ties between the Philippines and Japan, which now include the fisheries sector. This development follows an enhanced Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Japan from May 26-29.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the expanded partnership underscores the importance of the fisheries sector in the Philippines' food security and job creation agenda. "Food security is not just about producing more crops," Laurel remarked after signing the MOC with Japanese Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki. "It is about building resilient food systems from farms to fishing grounds, embracing technology, and ensuring our farmers and fisherfolk can remain productive despite growing challenges," he added.

The MOC upgrades the 2023 agriculture agreement between the two countries, expanding the partnership beyond traditional agricultural exchanges. It now encompasses smart farming, digital transformation, mechanization, biotechnology, climate resilience, fisheries development, value chain enhancement, and pest and disease management. For the Philippines, the inclusion of fisheries is significant, as they contribute to the domestic food supply and employment.

Tokyo-based Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang highlighted that the expansion will focus on innovation. "The new MOC also includes the promotion of innovation, including smart technology and digital transformation, for improving productivity in the Philippine agriculture and food systems," she said. Additionally, it will establish a Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (JCAF), replacing the previous agriculture-focused mechanism and creating a broader platform for policy discussions, technical cooperation, and project development.

The Philippines-Japan JCAF will conduct a meeting from July 2 to 3 to immediately operationalize the MOC.