Organized by the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development, Agrilink is the undisputed leader in agribusiness exhibition which is being held annually in October. It is immediately begin to be the Philippines’ largest annual international agribusiness event from its first show in 1994 which attracts hundreds of exhibitors and visitors. Since 2000, the venue for the Agrilink has been in World Trade Center in Manila. Now on its 25th year, held last Oct 4-6, 2018 Agrilink celebrates with its biggest exhibit yet and one that features the entire value chain from farm inputs up to the retail markets.
AgriLink is divided into the exhibition component and hosted activities such as focused crop sector meeting with the secretary of Agriculture, seminars and workshops. AgriLink also serves as a venue for the leaders of the agribusiness to come together and dialogue with the top leaders of the country, including the Philippine President, the leaders and members of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the members of the Philippine Cabinet. Over 30 agribusiness associations and institutions participate annually as co-organizers of Agrilink. Their inputs serve to determine schedule of exhibit activities and seminar topics and the existence of priority concerns and problems in difference crop sectors which need to be discussed with the Dept. of Agriculture secretary.
A good number of foreign or international companies from the France, China, Korea, USA, Germany, Thailand, Netherlands and other Asian countries were among the exhibitors. Visitors consisted of entrepreneurs and professionals in animal breeding, machinery and equipment, animal health and nutrition, aquaculture, grains, horticulture and organic farming. Among the visitors were Sustainable Agriculture Technicians from the Center for Bayanihan Economics in Angat, Bulacan whose been actively attending several events and seminars that tackles news and updates in organic agriculture. They’ve witnessed sophisticated exhibits of different agribusiness associations and institutions that made them gained knowledge in new technologies in sustainable agriculture.
Among the seminars that they have attended were “International Organic Certification” which was facilitated by Thilini Perera and “Fair for Life Certification” tackled by Bastein de Leslerme. The topics were focused on why do farmer owners and agripreneurs need to certify, distribution of organic agriculture lands, conversion period, agro tourism, agribusiness, vermicomposting and the advanced organic production.
The following are the Co-organizers of Agrilink:
Agri-Aqua Network International • Agricultural Credit Policy Council • Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers & Distribution Association • Bureau of Agriculture & Fisheries Standards • Bureau of Agriculture Research • Bureau of Animal Industry • Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources • Bureau of Plant Industry • Cooperative Development Authority • Department of Agrarian Reform • Department of Agriculture-AMAS • Durian Industry Council Davao City • Federation of Goat & Sheep Producers & Associations of the Philippines, Inc. • National Dairy Authority • National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. • National Onion Growers Cooperative Marketing Association • Organic Producers Trade Association • Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association • Philippine Association of Feed Millers • Philippine Association of Free-Range Poultry Advocates, Inc. • Philippine Carabao Center • Philippine Center for Postharvest Development & Mechanization • Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food, Inc. • Philippine Coconut Authority • Philippine Commercial Organik Fertilizer Producer Association, Inc. • Philippine Council for Agriculture & Fisheries • Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation • Philippine Fisheries Assocication, Inc. • Philippine Food Processors & Exporters Organization • Philippine Maize Federation, Inc. • Philippine Rice Research Institute • Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation • Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines • Postharvest Horticulture Training & Research Center • SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing & Allied Industries, Inc. • United Small Ruminant Breeders of the Philippines