Entrepreneurial Drivers of AgTech in the Philippines

There are a myriad challenges facing the agri-food industry. On the demand side, population growth and changing food preferences hinder the industry’s ability to feed everyone. On the supply side, the depletion of natural resources and mounting environmental stressors threaten the long-term viability and sustainability of food production systems. Employing innovative technologies and smarter resource use is key to ensuring food security, environmental sustainability and a better economic outlook for developing economies.

Although growth projections in AgTech have been impressive at the global aggregate level, cross-country and even intra-regional variations persist. Based on the AgFunder report, top investment gains are mostly in developed economies. Within Southeast Asia, there is a disparity in the influx of capital: only a few member countries such as Singapore and Indonesia receive notable support. Philippines in particular, lags behind its Asian counterparts in terms of investment expansion. There are major constraints and challenges faced by the AgTech sector in the country. Left unexamined and unaddressed, these roadblocks will hinder the sector’s growth and development. An exploration of AgTech enterprises can help us understand the underlying factors and constraints.