Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the company, which is part of the global network of Japan-based Yazaki Corp., is keen on exporting soybeans, particularly those grown organically.
“The company is planning to diversify and go into the food production business,” said Alcala in an interview.
Yazaki Corp. through its affiliate Agritechno Yazaki is currently coordinating with the department for the testing of a new seed technology.
Alcala said the seed-coating trials using the Yazaki technology is ongoing in a number of sites in Mindanao and Bulacan in Luzon.
The DA said that in exchange for the procurement of the seed-coating technology, Yazaki-Torres will import vegetables for the Japanese market.
“I informed Yazaki-Torres president Feliciano Torres that the Philippines will be exporting semi-processed soya beans instead of raw soya beans. This will allow farmers to earn more,” said Alcala.
Earlier, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) said officials of Yazaki were especially interested in the soybean industry in the Philippines. BAR serves as the lead agency that oversees research and development (R&D) activities on soya.
BAR, an attached agency of the DA, noted that Japan is one of the biggest importers of soybeans in the world. Japan imported about four million tons of soybeans in 2005.
In a visit in March, officials of Yazaki expressed interest in the possibility of a collaborative research with the Philippine government involving the Gel-Covered Seed Technology or Tanemaru, the gel-coated seeds, on soybeans and for other crops as well.
According to Agritecno Yazaki, Tanemaru is an entirely new seed form in which a small seed is wrapped in natural polymer gel full of water making it easier to handle. Wrapping the seed in the gel will draw the best potential out from the seed itself. This will also prevent the early spoilage and drying of seeds.
Meanwhile, the DA announced that the Philippines has sent a trial shipment of locally-grown spices, mostly chili peppers, to Singapore.
The country is eyeing to ship spices to Singapore on a regular basis.
