At the beginning of September, the IISLA team invited a group of industry professionals to come together and discuss the food distribution system in the Philippines. Hosted by Mel Yan, our panellists were: IISLA’s Founder and CEO, Jennifer Viloria; Sonia Lazo (Intas Destinations); Reuben Pangan (Air21 Global); Prince Ang (SACHI Group) and Tamara Mekler (Fortuna Cools).
In a continuation of our food system analysis, the September forum examined how we can better deliver food from farm to market, to ensure fair and stable income for producers whilst maintaining fair and affordable prices for consumers. We also wanted to find ways of optimising the capacity of MSMEs in providing affordable transportation, packaging and storage services for a more efficient food distribution system.
To give you a glimpse into the conversation, here’s a roundup of what was said:
Kicking off the discussion was IISLA’s Head of Research, Jayces Garello, who began to talk us through her team’s recent findings. She highlighted the ways in which food travels in a globalised system, informing us that the globalised flow of food has allowed multinational companies to dominate the global south. Developing countries, like the Philippines, have become increasingly export-orientated, which has increased their dependence on imported and/or processed foods. So much so that in 2019, the Philippines exported $5.2 billion worth of agricultural products, whilst importing double this amount at $10.6 billion – posing the question, why are we not consuming what we are producing?
The presentation then took us through the regional transport routes in the Philippines, noting that 30% of total costs over sales went to logistics, proving that more must be done to support farmers and MSMEs in finding more efficient and suitable transport. Presenting IISLA’s findings, Jayces highlighted the issues throughout the distribution system. One being the lack of infrastructure to support farmers in the first mile of distribution, as they are not supported in their journey from farm to market. She illustrated that the sheer lack of suitable packaging and cold storage units, which increases the risk of spoilage, plays a role in the fragility of the chain.
To follow, our Community Development Manager, Imelda Canuel, gave a presentation on the highlights of our UN Food System Summit Dialogue, in which we came to understand the issues throughout the food system from those experiencing it first hand. In this focus group discussion, MSMEs and farmers revealed to us the challenges they face when finding sustainable and affordable transport. (To read more about our work in the UN Food System Summit, click here.)
The panellist discussion began with a presentation from Reuben Pangan of Air21. Agreeing with our research, Reuben declared that the problems lie within the complex structure of the supply chain, in which farmers have no choice but to sell to the middlemen. He informed us that vital infrastructure such as roads are still not capable of supporting a sustainable journey from farm to market. Reuben took us through the work of Air21, who are working towards a more equitable and fair supply chain for farmers.
Our next panelist, Sonia Lazo, then highlighted the lack of vehicles to support the transport of fresh fruits and vegetables across the Philippines. Telling us about her company, Intas Destinations, Sonia started to integrate the distribution of food into the tourism sector during the COVID-19 crisis last year. Intas Destination saw an opportunity to use the vehicles that were once only used to transport tourists to be also used for the delivery of food. This helped to increase the number of transportation links, whilst connecting tourists with the food system.
Prince Ang of the SACHI Group, perceives the issues presented as needing to be systematically addressed. He explained to us that there is a real lack of plastic alternatives, meaning that when consumers do come in contact with biodegradable packaging, they are unsure as to how to compost it. In an effort to change this, his company has partnered with communities, to teach people how to compost. In turn, he sells the compost to farmers, who can use it to grow their crops organically. By seeing issues through a holistic lens, Princes’ initiative has been able to solve multiple problems that run throughout the food value chain.
Tamara Mekler’s company, Fortuna Cools, is working hard to create a more sustainable food distribution system. She told us about her company, Fortuna Cools, an initiative that turns agricultural waste into food insulation. In a drive to steer away from brittle, styrofoam packaging, their research found that coconut husks could be used as a replacement material. With tons of it wasted on farms, Fortuna Cools buys these raw coconut husks from farmers and transforms them into packaging coolers that are long-lasting and equally better for the environment.
IISLAs CEO, Jennifer Viloria, closed with an answer to the question: How do we fund sustainable and efficient methods of food distribution? Her answer: putting impact before profitable returns. At our core, we see systemic investment as fundamental for progress. We know that the capital is out there, but we must ensure that farmers and MSMEs are able to access and absorb it. To quote Jennifer: “we cannot work in silos, we must all work together”.
Thank you again to those that joined us, it was an incredibly thought-provoking discussion and we were very pleased with the participation of both our panelists and guests. The session has helped to further our own understanding of the food distribution system in the Philippines, and will help us to serve out our mission and vision of a more equitable world as we continue to carry out our work.
