SMFI Inks MOA With Agrilink 2009
Southeast Asia’s largest publicly listed food, beverage, and packaging company San Miguel Foods, Inc.’s (SMFI) recently signed with the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD) to formalize their support and participation for this year’s Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink.
And this year, the triple events that serve those three major sectors will underscore the benefits of focusing on enterprises that promote sustainable local food production and focus on the Filipino market.
In times of economic crisis, reduced prices and demand, multiplied with increasing costs in production, marketing, transportation expenses and changing consumer attitudes affect producers and manufacturers alike.
“The latest financial meltdown has also hit our country. Both big and small enterprises, from corporate to backyard raisers, have suffered from major adjustments in costs, input availability and consumer purchasing power,” added SMFI Feeds Business Dr. Norman C. Ramos.
“SMFI’s agro cluster is composed of the Feeds Business, Magnolia Poultry and Monterey Corporation. This includes plantations- and the agro-industrial zone (AIZ). Earlier this year, local exporters have experienced a drop in demand of products abroad. And while industry experts contend with that, some consider it wise to cater to shorter marketing chains and doing business, not on a massive scale, but in small increments instead.” said SMFI Poultry Business General Manager Rita Imelda B. Palabyab.
SMFI has been partnering with Agrilink since the fair’s early beginnings; and year after year, Agrilink’s number of exhibitors, participants and guests continues to grow, allowing SMFI to effectively attend to the inquiries and exchanges of ideas in the event. Last year, SMFI held a seminar entitled “Going back to basics: The Key to disease management and efficiency improvement in hog raising.
And this year, SMFI will showcase a variety of products that will provide the opportunity for smaller, diversified farms to develop vertically and compete commercially with larger, specialized agricultural enterprises.
Dr. Ramos added, “Agrilink, being the biggest agribusiness trade fair held annually, has been a good venue for the industry to gather and trade informa’tion on trends and technology relevant to agribusiness. Likewise, exhibits like these are helpful in showcasing products with company personnel wherein prospective clients or even existing customers can be accommodated.”
On October 8 to 10, FRLD will feature the best assembly of the world’s latest technologies, products, services and systems on agribusiness.