Philippines launches asia-pacific sustainable food hub as regional leaders combat climate crisis and biodiversity loss

The Philippines took center stage in the global sustainable food movement last November when Bacolod City hosted the first-ever Asia-Pacific convergence of Slow Food International. Over five days, more than 2,000 delegates from 20 countries transformed the city in Negros Occidental province into a vibrant showcase of regional food cultures and sustainable farming practices.

The gathering brought together an diverse coalition of farmers, chefs, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and policymakers united by growing concerns over climate change, biodiversity loss, and the future of Asia-Pacific food systems. Participants shared traditional knowledge, heirloom seeds, and innovative approaches to agroecology—a sustainable farming method that combines ecological science with Indigenous wisdom and social action.

“This is a space where communities, ingredients, and ideas come together to shape the future of food,” explained Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food International. The event served both as a celebration of the region’s rich culinary heritage and a strategic response to environmental challenges threatening food security across Asia and the Pacific.

Among the standout presentations was T’boli Indigenous leader Myrna Pula from the southern Philippines, who demonstrated how heirloom rice varieties have sustained her community for generations. The convergence established the Philippines as a regional hub for Slow Food’s mission of promoting “good, clean and fair” food systems, strengthening networks of local producers and advocates working to preserve biodiversity while building climate resilience in agriculture across the Asia-Pacific region.