Aboitiz Foods’ corn sourcing initiative boosts farmer incomes

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures, Inc.’s (AEV) unit Aboitiz Foods said its eight-year yellow corn sourcing program has helped smallholder cooperatives increase revenues sixteenfold through direct sourcing, training, and post-harvest support.

In a statement on Wednesday, Aboitiz Foods said the initiative, known as Project Silk, has supported 2,835 farmers in the Philippines from 2017 to 2025, generating more than $818,000 in corn sales.

The program is implemented through AEV subsidiary Pilmico Foods Corp., in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, local government units, and the Aboitiz Foundation.

“Through Project Silk, we help corn farmers in the Philippines become better entrepreneurs so they can build viable and competitive enterprises,” Joeben Gamatero, vice-president for brand and reputation management and agribusiness marketing of Aboitiz Foods, said in the statement.

The company said Project Silk provides farmers with a stable market for a portion of Pilmico’s corn requirements for livestock feed production. The program also offers training in bookkeeping, financial management, market planning, and cooperative governance.

Aboitiz Foods said it has also invested in facilities and programs to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access, and secure better prices.

Meanwhile, the company said it has invested in various food security, education, livelihood, and environmental initiatives across Asia.

In Brunei, Project Synergea, a partnership between Aboitiz Foods’ subsidiary Gold Coin and the Institute of Brunei Technical Education, is equipping communities with agricultural knowledge and technical expertise in poultry.

The company said Project EduCare in China and Vietnam targets underserved communities, offering educational programs to help equip young people with skills to participate in sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Project ROOTS in Malaysia and China focuses on environmental restoration, including replanting trees, rehabilitating shorelines, and improving coastal ecosystems to strengthen climate resilience in communities dependent on food production, the company said.

“As we expand our business across the region, we will keep creating pathways toward shared progress and nourishing a more sustainable food future together with the communities,” Mr. Gamatero said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel