AS climate change increasingly threatens global food security, the phrase 'food is everyone's business' takes on special significance in the Philippines. The statement highlights the collective responsibility to ensure food availability, safety and sustainability, emphasizing that all sectors of society — government, businesses, cooperatives, communities and individuals — play essential roles in the food system. Given the Philippines' vulnerability to climate change, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels, it is crucial to adopt this mindset to secure the country's food future.

The Philippines' agricultural history spans thousands of years, with rice cultivation being central to its cultural and economic identity. Today, the agriculture sector employs about one-quarter of the workforce but faces challenges intensified by climate change: erratic weather patterns disrupt crop yields and urbanization encroaches on agricultural land. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warns that climate change could cut rice yields in the Philippines by up to 75 percent by 2100.