By Atty. Kenneth Cheng
Recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority paint a picture of a sector on the rise, with an overall growth of 5.7 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This was driven by significant growth in key areas like crops, which expanded by 11.3 percent (with palay and corn growing by 13.9 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively), and poultry, which increased by 7 percent.
Yet, this positive momentum exists alongside a sobering reality: a recent UN report highlighted that over 51 million Filipinos still face food insecurity, while a Social Weather Stations survey found that 27.2 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in March 2025.
Climate pressures, aging farmers
This paradox forces us to confront a critical question: If our agricultural sector is growing, why does a significant portion of our population still experience hunger?
Challenges like climate change are impacting productivity and increasing import dependency; the Philippines is vulnerable to global shocks. Compounding these issues, the country’s food insecurity is also driven by an aging farming population and a lack of youth interest in a career in agriculture.
For too long, the industry has been seen as a relic of the past, confined to manual labor and limited to the farm gate. It also doesn’t help that there’s a perception that a career in this industry is unstable or low-income-generating.
Growing demand
At Bounty Fresh Group Holdings Inc., we are breaking this old mindset. Our purpose is clear: We innovate more to improve the lives of families through life’s bounty. For us, agriculture is not just an industry; it’s a platform of growth, innovation, and pride. A career here is no longer a last resort but a first choice for those who want to create impact and meaning in their work.
Recognizing this, not only has the agriculture industry evolved, but also the livestock industry.
Today’s sector is a dynamic, complex, and technology-driven ecosystem that desperately needs a new generation of industry-aligned professionals. The demand for agriculture professionals, especially in the livestock industry, is growing fast as more businesses expand. It’s no longer just about farming; there’s a strong need for people skilled in animal care, nutrition, technology, and supply chain.
These are careers that matter because they help feed families and support the growth of communities. Through our purpose, we turn these opportunities into a place where work goes beyond a job and becomes a way to make lives better every day.
Beyond the farm gate
Our operations span food production, logistics, innovation, and technology. This means there are roles that many wouldn’t immediately associate with agriculture. For example, we have a GPS Stockman. This role monitors trucks and ensures efficiency in transporting livestock and products. This role combines agriculture with logistics and digital monitoring, proving that technology is now central to farming operations. We also have a Sexor, a highly specialized role that determines the gender of chicks at an early stage to support efficient farm management and sustainability.
Beyond these, there are roles in research and development, feed formulation, veterinary science, cold storage management, food safety, and supply chain operations. These careers show that agriculture goes beyond manual labor. The field now includes science, precision, and innovation.
Equipping future agriculture professionals
As new breeds of professionals enter the workforce, there is a need to empower them to transform Philippine agriculture from a traditional livelihood into a modern powerhouse. This will make food not just abundant, but accessible and affordable for every Filipino family. Through the youth’s vision and innovation, we can finally bridge the gap between our growing economy and our constant goal of being a food-secure nation.
At Bounty, we nurture growth by equipping Filipinos with the right skills and opportunities in agriculture. Through our Annual Technical Training, our Management Trainee Program, and internal certifications like farm management, we strengthen both technical expertise and leadership capabilities. These programs do more than build skills; they also inspire pride in agriculture, open new career paths, and empower individuals to thrive.
Our associate vice president for animal health group, Dr. Mark Anthony Gabriel, shared that this program has helped with flock monitoring and increased vaccine effectiveness in the field.
“This commitment to continuous learning allows us to adopt global best practices, ensuring we can deliver on our promise to provide the best animal health care and a reliable food supply for Filipino families,” he said.
Then there’s our business center head for Ozamis, Princess Joy Espero-Urbano, whose leadership journey shaped how she linked her work in the farms to the bigger purpose of improving lives through food.
Leadership through knowledge
“I was able to use what I learned in analyzing data from hatchery operations to improve chick quality and placement performance. Later on, when I joined the fresh provincial operations, the same skills helped me bridge the gap between farm-to-retail handling, ensuring the quality of products that reach our stores. The initiative showed me that leadership is about equipping both teams and growers with the right knowledge to succeed,” she said.
Furthermore, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of agriculture professionals through Bounty Cares Foundation's scholarship program. This initiative provides opportunities to deserving students enrolled in agriculture-related courses, helping them transform their passion into a viable and impactful career. Through this program, we are directly investing in the young minds who will shape a more resilient and food-secure future for the Philippines.
Agriculture as a source of ride
The challenges facing Philippine agriculture, in particular, the livestock industry, are immense, but so are the opportunities. Our country’s resilience and the ingenuity of Filipinos are our greatest assets.
By investing in our talent and embracing innovation, we recognize that agriculture is a high-impact professional career. We can turn this paradox into a promise. At Bounty, we are committed to forging a future where every Filipino family has access to safe and affordable food. We strive to make the agriculture sector a source of national pride and a key driver of shared prosperity. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
The author, Atty. Kenneth Cheng is the president of Fresh Group and CEO of Bounty Fresh Group Holdings Inc. He is a lawyer and an accomplished leader in the Philippine agriculture industry.
