HSBC Philippines has provided philanthropic funding to a project aimed at helping Philippine smallholder farmers and fisherfolk adapt to climate change and scale sustainable food production. The initiative is a collaboration between the development sector group Bayan Family of Foundations and Philippine agritech company Mayani.
In the Philippines, smallholders account for over 70% of the food supply but face significant vulnerability to climate change, with limited capacity for adaptation. The United Nations (UN) also notes that women smallholders are disproportionately affected due to their reliance on natural resources and limited access to agricultural training and credit.
The project focuses on developing cooperative models for smallholders. These models will integrate regenerative agricultural practices, Indigenous knowledge, cooperative governance, smallholder-centric digital tools, and market readiness. Key investments include on-farm infrastructure improvements such as smart greenhouses and precision agriculture systems. A cooperative development manual will also be created to support replication.
“We are pleased to partner with Bayan alongside Mayani to provide philanthropic funding for the climate-smart agriculture capacity building. This important partnership will aim to support local farmers and fishermen to adapt climate-resilient practices and strengthen their businesses, while also striving to contribute towards the improvement of food security in the Philippines,” said Sandeep Uppal, President & Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Philippines.
This initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (No Hunger), 10 (Reduce Inequalities), and 12 (Climate Action), with the goal of building resilient rural food supply chains. The Philippines faces a $72 billion finance gap to achieve its nationally determined contribution (NDC) – the country’s climate action plan. To address this, Mayani is working with Co-Axis of Temasek Trust to attract additional climate co-investments following HSBC’s funding.
“There are a thousand ways to tackle any systemic issue. History has, however, proven that the power of a community working together towards a common goal can do wonders beyond their expectations. Filipinos equate this with the value of bayanihan. In the taxonomy of organizations, this is best exemplified by the cooperative, which has the upliftment of its members’ lives as its primary objective through its entrepreneurial pursuits. If agricultural cooperatives – numbering in thousands in the Philippines – are effectively mobilized to serve as agents of climate adaptation, social, economic, and even environmental benefits could potentially be delivered to its millions of members,” said Prof. Carlo S. Sagun, President & CEO of Bayan Family of Foundations.
The development roadmap for this year targets vulnerable food corridors in Luzon and Visayas. In 2026, the project plans to expand its focus to include smallholders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Proponents hope these interventions will contribute to food security, peacebuilding, and economic recovery.
“The sheer gravity and frequency of these climate hazards would eventually require their own nomenclature. As they evolve, we see them as known constants in agriculture, and it’s high-time we tackle them head on,” said Ochie San Juan, Co-Founder & Chief Farmer of Mayani. Mayani is an agritech platform focused on empowering smallholders through market, input, and credit access.
HSBC continues its philanthropic efforts to support communities in achieving decarbonization, resilience, and inclusion. By focusing on rural agri-smallholders, who are significantly affected by climate risks, they aim to maximize the impact of the initial funding.