Project Silk anchors Aboitiz Foods' push for resilient, inclusive food systems in Asia

Project Silk, led by Aboitiz Foods through Pilmico Foods Corporation, is emerging as a key example of how agribusiness players are reworking supply chains from the ground up, as pressure mounts across Asia to build more resilient and self-sustaining food systems.

Implemented in partnership with the Philippine department of agriculture, local government units and Aboitiz Foundation, the initiative supported close to 3,000 corn farmers and generated more than US$800,000 in corn sales since between 2017 and 2025 – while helping build a more reliable sourcing network.

The programme comes as governments and food producers across the region grapple with rising demand, climate volatility and fragmented agricultural systems, prompting a shift towards closer collaboration with farmers to secure consistent, high-quality inputs.

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Against this backdrop, Aboitiz Foods is scaling models that link smallholder farmers more directly to commercial demand as it expands across eight countries, aligning with its broader push to sustainably feed Asia’s growth from mill to meal.

“Our goal is to empower communities across Asia to build resilient, inclusive food systems. Through Project Silk, we help corn farmers in the Philippines become better entrepreneurs so they can build viable and competitive enterprises,” said Joeben Gamatero, vice president for brand and reputation management and agribusiness marketing at Aboitiz Foods. “When farmers build stronger businesses, the entire food value chain grows stronger with them.”

Yellow corn remains a critical input for the livestock sector, making consistency, quality and reliable sourcing essential. Yet across Southeast Asia, production is often fragmented, creating inefficiencies in aggregation, pricing and post-harvest management.

Project Silk was designed to address these gaps by linking farmer cooperatives more directly to demand. Through Pilmico, Aboitiz Foods sources part of its corn requirements from participating groups, creating a more predictable market while improving supply reliability.

Beyond procurement, the programme focuses on strengthening farmers’ operational capabilities. Training in financial management, production planning and cooperative governance enables participants to meet industry standards and operate as long-term suppliers.

Investments in post-harvest infrastructure and quality control further reduce losses and help farmers meet buyer requirements more consistently – reinforcing connections between local production and commercial markets.

For many cooperatives, the impact has been significant. “We learned so much, especially in accounting, bookkeeping, financial statements, and budgeting,” said Evangeline Frasco, a cooperative leader. “We now manage our farms like real businesses.”

“This facility gives our farmers a secure market and a secure livelihood,” added Iligan City agriculturist Mary Ann Beley, noting that improved quality has translated into higher earnings.

Farmers have also diversified their income streams through small enterprises, strengthening resilience at both household and community levels.

Beyond the Philippines, Aboitiz Foods is extending its farmer-centric and community-led approach across the region through a series of partnerships and programmes aimed at food security, education and environmental sustainability.

In Brunei, Project Synergea – delivered through subsidiary Gold Coin in partnership with the Institute of Brunei Technical Education – equips communities with agricultural knowledge through hands-on poultry training.

Meanwhile, Project EduCare in China and Vietnam focuses on improving access to quality education in underserved areas, while Project ROOTS in Malaysia and China supports environmental restoration efforts, including reforestation and coastal rehabilitation tied to food production ecosystems.

Complementing these initiatives, the company is also advancing responsible production practices across its operations, including exceeding extended producer responsibility (EPR) targets through Pilmico.

“These efforts reflect how Aboitiz Foods integrates social responsibility and sustainability into its regional operations, creating shared value that extends beyond individual projects or markets,” Gamatero said. “As we expand our business across the region, we will keep creating pathways toward shared progress and nourishing a more sustainable food future together with the communities.”

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