Villgro Philippines, a business incubator on smart agriculture, will be accepting applications for a food security course from innovative enterprises next month.
In partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Villgro said it will soon launch the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Enhancement (SAFE) Accelerator program.
SAFE Accelerator program
Four enterprises in the Philippines, Laos, Timor-Leste and Vietnam will be selected to receive several benefits under the SAFE Accelerator program.
The program will consist of virtual coaching and hands-on workshops, and will run for four months.
Qualified enterprises will also access Villgro's network of investors to acquire more capital for growing their businesses.
Transformative change
"Transformative change to ensure food security is urgent. Regenerative agriculture is at the heart of restoring ecosystems and ensuring our food systems are sustainable," Villgro Philippines co-founder and chief executive officer Priya Thachadi said.
According to the Social Weather Stations, the number of Filipinos who experienced involuntary hunger expanded to 25.9 percent of the country's total population in December 2024 from 22.9 percent in September of the same year.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported 24 typhoons entered the country last year amid climate change.
Severe tropical storm "Kristine" alone left agricultural damage worth more than P11 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
If climate change mitigation measures are delayed, the Climate Change Commission says the country will face economic losses of P645 billion per year until 2030.