{
  "id": 14001490,
  "title": "ASEAN integration on food security pushed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/asean-integration-on-food-security-pushed",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Philippine Star Business",
    "slug": "philippine-star-business",
    "url": "https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/10/13/2562728/asean-integration-food-security-pushed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manila, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has been advocating for deeper integration with Southeast Asian neighbors to enhance food security and broaden market opportunities. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, particularly in the face of climate and geopolitical challenges that threaten agriculture and food production. Tiu Laurel stressed that robust trade arrangements and mutual investments among ASEAN members are crucial in mitigating supply shortages when domestic production is under strain. He also introduced the “Big Brother, Small Brother” program, which could be scaled up across the region. This initiative, originally launched in the Philippines to mentor grassroots producers by pairing them with established corporations, aims to empower small-scale agripreneurs through hands-on guidance and support. The Adapt-A-Coop program, implemented locally by the Department of Agriculture (DA), pairs cooperatives with private-sector mentors who offer practical advice on various business aspects such as cost accounting, packaging enhancements, and market-centered promotion. The program strives to elevate business management, financial literacy, operational efficiency, and market access for farmers. Tiu Laurel underscored the necessity of improving the financial and business acumen of smallholder farmers, urging them to understand the costs of their produce, marketing strategies, and target markets to secure better prices. By facilitating direct connections between commercial buyers and local farms, the program aims to reduce intermediaries in the supply chain, enabling farmers to receive fair compensation for their crops.",
  "summary": "The Philippines is pushing for deeper integration with its Southeast Asian neighbors to strengthen food security and expand market linkages.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}