To further enhance the development of the country’s dairy sector, the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) partnered with Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) through a joint declaration signed on March 2, 2022.

Under the signed document, DA and MASHAV will collaborate on attaining food security and developing the Philippine dairy sector through technical and economic partnerships between Filipino stakeholders and Israeli agri-food industry.

The Department, through the National Dairy Authority (NDA), also developed a dairy roadmap to promote a more productive, competitive, and sustainable dairy industry with the “OneDA Reform Agenda” and “OneDAiry Revolution” in mind.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar commended Israel’s advanced dairy production methods and technologies — which include computerized milking and feeding systems, cow-cooling and processing technologies, herd management, breeding, and nutrition, and special husbandry and feeding methods — making the Middle East country a world leader in dairy production.

“The Philippine Government is eager to learn from Israel’s best dairy practices. We have watched with great interest the progress of the joint dairy project between Israel and Vietnam, and we wish to learn as much from you here in the Philippines and join this elite font of knowledge,” affirmed the DA chief.

Both countries pledged to cooperate with public and private stakeholders and local communities in developing a pilot project for the integrated development of the dairy sector.

They will also strengthen capacity-building programs to effectively reinforce the two countries’ collaborative efforts for the Philippine dairy sector.

The declaration was formally adopted during the Philippine-Israel Dairy Business Forum organized and conducted virtually by the NDA, in partnership with the Embassy of Israel. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)