PHILIPINES – The Board of Investments (BOI) has given the green light to Metro Pacific Dairy Farms, Inc. (MPDF) to embark on a groundbreaking venture as a new domestic producer of dairy products and plant-based beverages.
Scheduled to commence operations in March 2025, this pioneering endeavor seeks to enhance the Philippines’ food security and cater to the escalating demand for a wide array of dietary choices.
MPDF plans to establish a cutting-edge integrated dairy farm and processing facility in Laguna, prioritizing the production of top-tier dairy and plant-based products for the local market.
Drawing inspiration from the Israeli model, the project will adopt advanced dairy farming practices, techniques, and technology, including artificial intelligence and modern equipment, to optimize both efficiency and product quality.
“The BOI eagerly anticipates the implementation of advanced dairy farming technology, poised to deliver unparalleled quality and efficiency in production while significantly bolstering domestic dairy and plant-based beverage manufacturing,” BOI Managing Head and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo remarked.
“This initiative marks a significant stride toward enhancing our food security and reducing our reliance on imported milk. Attaining greater self-sufficiency in our dairy production also ensures that Filipino consumers have access to fresh, high-quality local products.”
With an initial investment exceeding Php2 billion (US$34.3K), MPDF’s facility will accommodate a thousand cows, yielding 6.5 million liters of raw milk annually.
The project aims to bridge the gap in local dairy production capacity and cater to the burgeoning interest in plant-based dairy alternatives.
In 2023, the Philippines faced dwindling local milk production and heavy dependence on imports to meet its dairy needs.
According to the National Dairy Authority, the country relies on imports to fulfil 99% of its dairy consumption, with local production accounting for only 0.98% of the total demand of 2.93 billion liters.
Furthermore, the Rapid Industry Appraisal (RIA) of the Philippine Plant-Based Foods Industry, conducted by the BOI, suggested that the local production capacity for plant-based milk stands at 24.4 million liters.
MPDF’s project is set to elevate this capacity by 12%, reaching 27.4 million liters per year and enabling the local market to satisfy 95% of the projected demand of 28.8 million liters by 2025.
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