How can innovation and public investment help build a more food-secure Philippines?
In line with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2026 World Food Day theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ (PIDS) will hold a webinar on October 20, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM via Zoom. The event will feature two PIDS studies examining the role of technology transfer, public research and development (R&D), and government spending in strengthening food security in the Philippines.
The first study, “,” by PIDS Senior ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Fellow Roehlano Briones and Project Technical Specialist Helena Luz Pastolero, assesses the commercialization of publicly funded R&D in the agrifood sector. The study finds that earnings from technology transfer have been limited, while research and development institutions face challenges in securing intellectual property rights, completing product development, and obtaining fairness opinion reports. It also identifies low commercial potential of research and development products, fragmented information systems, high business costs, and limited institutional capacity as key challenges to technology commercialization.
The second study, “,” also authored by Briones and PIDS Supervising ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Specialist Agnes Kristine Quilinguing, examines public spending on food security-related programs across four dimensions: availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. The study finds significant progress in food availability and accessibility but persistent gaps in utilization, stability, and equity. It also identifies challenges in addressing underlying problems in the agrifood system, as well as inefficiencies in social protection and nutrition programs associated with large-scale implementation and decentralization.
Join policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss how innovation, public investment, and policy reforms can strengthen the Philippines’ agrifood system and improve food security outcomes.
Interested participants may register at .
The event will also be livestreamed on the and Facebook pages.
Read the full studies at and .
DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS:
of Dr. Roehlano Briones and Ms. Helena Luz Pastolero, PIDS Senior ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Fellow and Project Technical Specialist
of Dr. Roehlano Briones and Ms. Agnes Kristine Quilinguing, PIDS Senior ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Fellow and Supervising ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Specialist
of Mr. Novel Bangsal, House of Representatives Congressional Policy and Budget ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Department Executive Director
