{"id":23704,"date":"2026-02-04T16:06:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T08:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?p=23704"},"modified":"2026-02-04T16:06:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T08:06:46","slug":"coffee-bamboo-investment-forum-charts-path-for-sustainable-livelihoods-agroforestry-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/02\/04\/coffee-bamboo-investment-forum-charts-path-for-sustainable-livelihoods-agroforestry-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee-Bamboo investment forum charts path for sustainable livelihoods, agroforestry system"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Participants of the Production Investment Forum for Coffee and Bamboo.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stakeholders from across Northern Mindanao gathered at the Production Investment Forum for Coffee and Bamboo on January 21 to 23, 2026, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, to establish a collaborative investment platform to ensure <\/span>the<\/span> long-term viability of sustainable agroforestry in the region. <\/span><\/p>\n

The primary objective of the activity was to present commodity investment plans that integrate coffee and bamboo-based agroforestry. This strategy is designed to create robust opportunities for stakeholders, including smallholder farmers and Indigenous Peoples (IPs), to participate in sustainable livelihoods and secure alternative income sources.  <\/span><\/p>\n

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NSC on Coffee and Cacao Chairperson David Santos answers questions from the participants during the open forum.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Edgardo Manda, a member of the NSC on Fiber, discusses the role of bamboo in developing a sustainable farming system in Bukidnon.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participants included coffee and bamboo growers and <\/span>other<\/span> industry stakeholders from Northern Mindanao, members of the Agricultural and Fishery Councils, Indigenous Peoples engaged in the coffee and bamboo sectors, and members of the National Sectoral Committee (NSC) on Coffee and the NSC on Fiber Crops.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three-day forum was organized in response to the NSC on Coffee and Cacao Resolution No. 2, Series of 2025, and in support of the Department of Agriculture\u2019s (DA) participation in the Food and Agriculture Organization \u201cHand-in-Hand\u201d Program aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on ending poverty and hunger.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Manda showing his scarf made of bamboo fiber during his presentation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe want to create a farming system where coffee and bamboo remain productive, profitable, and self-sustaining for decades, rather than just a few seasons. Bukidnon is a strategic location because it has strong political support, high material availability, and the country\u2019s leading high-end bamboo processing facility,\u201d said Edgardo Manda, member of the NSC on Fiber Crops and president of the Philippine Bamboo Foundation, Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By promoting sustainable land use, the initiative seeks to utilize bamboo for soil stabilization and carbon sequestration while integrating coffee for agroforestry rehabilitation. Beyond environmental benefits, the project aims to generate over 1,000 jobs across the value chain, from farming to high-value processing industries.  <\/span><\/p>\n

òòò½ÊÓƵ (PCAF) Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos pointed out that this activity laid the groundwork for a shared vision. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLet us carry forward the momentum we have created. The true measure of our success lies in our collaboration by nurturing partnerships forged, refining the investment opportunities identified, and ensuring that the <\/span><\/p>\n

frameworks we have discussed are translated into tangible benefits on the ground,\u201d she added. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Outlining the ways forward<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The forum featured plenary sessions that covered production and farm-level investment, financing and credit access, and public-private investment. Aside from these discussions, the participants also went on an exploratory visit to coffee and bamboo program hubs in Bukidnon. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the information and experience gained, the participants and organizers outlined several critical ways forward to maintain the energy generated during the activity.<\/span><\/p>\n