Cargill Inc. will invest $200 million for feed manufacturing and chicken-growing operations in the Philippines this year, according to a report.
The country’s Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reano said Cargill will establish integrated plants across the country. The “feed to fork” plants will serve as manufacturing and growing stations for poultry products. The factories will provide seeds, manufacture feed, and grow and process chicken.
Reano said Cargill’s presence in the country will benefit local producers and workers, as raw materials for the plants will come from the Philippines. Also, the country no longer will have to import products from Cargill in Thailand.
Cargill has signed up for membership in the United Broiler Raisers Association of the Philippines.
Under law, a foreign company that engages in the rice and corn industry must either phase out its operation after 13 years or transfer at least 60 percent of its foreign-equity participation to Filipinos or Filipino-owned entities. Reano said he is urging the National Food Authority to extend Cargill’s permit to operate in the Philippines.
