January 8, 2025

Growing together: Backyard Bukid sites flourish in three areas across the Philippines.

What began as a simple garden plot at the SMC Head Office Complex has now expanded into three Backyard Bukid sites across the Philippines. Initially launched to encourage urban gardening and healthy eating habits among SMC employees, the initiative has since evolved into a comprehensive program aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security nationwide. 


San Miguel Foods together with San Miguel Foundation and SEED Philippines successfully kicked off its first ever Backyard Bukid farms in Brgy. Pili, Camarines Sur and Brgy. Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. It has also started training volunteer farmers from the third Backyard Bukid site in Brgy. Impalutao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. This expansion brings a total of 3 Backyard Bukid sites in the country sponsored by San Miguel Foods.

The newly established community farms of about 250 sqm shall serve as a vital source of food for local residents as they grow a variety of vegetables within their barangay. 75 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds gathered to participate in this initiative, highlighting the program's accessibility and appeal across different demographics. From young adults to senior citizens, housewives, plumbers, service workers, and even employees of the local government, the diverse group of participants reflects their shared interest and enthusiasm for learning about sustainable farming. 

Volunteers of the Backyard Bukid program are not only gaining valuable skills to produce healthy food for their families but are also unlocking opportunities to enhance their livelihoods and create sustainable income streams.


Tatay Henry, a 65-year-old volunteer from Brgy. Guihing, Davao del Sur shared his motivation for joining the program: "Gusto ko i-share sa akong uban, pamilya. Gusto ko mas mahasa ang kaalaman at pag-unawa ko sa pagtatanim upang maibahagi ko ang kaalaman na iyon sa ibang tao dito sa barangay at sa pamilya ko.” (I want to share this with my family. I want to enrich my knowledge and understanding on farming as this opportunity allows me to also share this knowledge with my family and others in my community.) 


Nanay Jacqueline, a 63-year-old volunteer expressed the practical benefits of the program: "Hindi ko na kailangan bumili sa palengke kasi pipitas na lang sa taniman. Sumali ako sa programang ito para mas matuto at maintindihan kung paano mag tanim ng gulay sa tamang paraan” (We don’t have to buy from the market anymore because we grow our own vegetables. I joined this program so I can learn and understand more about the right way of growing vegetables.)



As of October 2024, our Backyard Bukid community farmers have successfully harvested over 330 kilos of various crops including eggplant, petchay, kangkong, kamote tops, tomatoes, sitaw, okra, malunggay, lemongrass, papaya, and calamansi. With the diverse varieties of vegetables and fruits, our volunteers and other community members can enjoy fresh, nutritious food with the satisfaction of having grown these themselves.

Backyard Bukid is under the company’s umbrella CSR program entitled HANDOG and is paving the way not only for improved livelihood but also stronger community relationships, expanded educational opportunities, and empowered community members. It underscores the importance of food security and cultivates a shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient nation.

DA, San Miguel Foods partner in their first nationwide agri PPP to boost farmer incomes

January 17, 2025
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SMFI) have launched their first nationwide public-private partnership (PPP) in agriculture designed to improve Filipino farmers’ incomes, boost food security, and bring quality food to more Filipinos.

San Miguel Foods champions young achievers, supports DSWD MIMAROPA’s search for exemplary children of the 4Ps program

September 10, 2024
San Miguel Foods supported DSWD MIMAROPA's regional search for exemplary 4Ps children on August 30, 2024, recognizing top finalists for their advocacy, talents, and achievements.

San Miguel Foods hosts company-wide high-energy town hall

September 4, 2024
San Miguel Foods (SMF) recently held a company-wide virtual town hall designed to engage, inform, and inspire employees across all business units and locations nationwide. The event was a vibrant showcase of SMF’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and forward momentum.

San Miguel Foods pushes regenerative agriculture, yields 44% growth in cassava volumes

August 22, 2024
San Miguel Foods’ long-running regenerative agriculture program, also aimed at supporting local farmers, has yielded over 90,000 metric tons of cassava in the first half of the year, 44% higher than in the same period last year, boosting incomes for its extensive network of farmers nationwide. San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said that the company’s Cassava Assemblers Program, ongoing for many years now and in place in more than half of all the provinces in the country, has steadily grown, resulting in higher yields. “Through our Cassava Assemblers Program, we offer a guaranteed market with purchase agreements, a fixed floor price, and comprehensive technical assistance. We continue to engage with, and encourage farmers to organize themselves and form small businesses, to assemble a minimum of 20 hectares of cassava plantation,” Ang said. Ang explained that assemblers purchase produce directly from small farm holdings. This is particularly helpful for farmers with insufficient funds to pay for transport costs to sell their goods. It also solves the problem of economies of scale in production, lowering the unit cost of harvesting or transport, to a point where it is profitable for both the farmer and the assembler. For its part, San Miguel is assured a steady supply of an essential raw material.

Malasakit sa Panahon ng Trahedya

August 12, 2024
San Miguel Corporation stood in solidarity with other leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers and government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in the turnover ceremony of relief goods donated for the victims of super typhoon Carina organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). San Miguel Corporation through San Miguel Foods, donated over Php 500,000 worth of Purefoods canned goods, including Purefoods Ulam King Meaty Mechado, Purefoods Ulam King Meaty Menudo, Bongga Corned Beef, and Ulam King Caldereta. San Miguel continues to live up to its commitment to help those in need and recognizes the importance of working together towards recovery and in rebuilding the country in times of hardship.

San Miguel Foods, DOST-FNRI to fortify NutriBun with essential Nutrients for gov’t feeding programs nationwide

April 9, 2024
San Miguel Foods (SMF) and the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) have partnered to standardize the NutriBunformulation used in government feeding programs for underprivileged children to help address malnutrition and prevent stunting among vulnerable communities. The agreement, formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement, is seen to enhance the effectiveness of government efforts to improve child nutrition and health nationwide. The premixes will be used by DOST-FNRI’s nationwide network of “adaptors”--makers of enhanced NutriBuns distributed to children beneficiaries of the program. The program aims to ensure that sufficient, standardized nutritional values go into every NutriBun so all children get the full nutritional benefits intended. At the same time, it will also allow for cost-effectiveness for the program’s adaptors. 

San Miguel Foods expands Coral Rescue Program in Batangas as marine ecosystem flourishes

January 25, 2024
What was once a seemingly barren stretch of sand in 2022 is now a developing mini ecosystem teeming with color and marine life, thanks to San Miguel Foods’ Coral Rescue program.

Employees from the B-MEG Bataan and Iloilo Plants help safeguard local coastal environment through Mangrove reforestation project

November 16, 2023
Eighteen employees from B-MEG Plant Bataan and 43 employees from B-MEG Plant 1 Iloilo planted 1,200 mangrove propagules and 500 mangrove seedlings respectively as part of their efforts to help preserve and enrich the coastal environment of their respective provinces. Through the program, the teams aim to provide environmental and economic benefits to the residents of Barangay Bantan in Bataan and Barangay Gua-an in Ioilo. From an environmental perspective, mangroves act like a shield, minimizing the impact of storms and tidal waves, reducing soil erosion, and combating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide in their biomass and soil. These essential ecosystems also serve as nurseries for marine life, offering community members a sustainable source of livelihood.

PBBM leads inauguration of SMC's mega poultry farm, seen to boost PH food security

October 24, 2023
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of San Miguel Foods' Magnolia Poultry Farm in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur- the country's largest poultry facility and the first of 12 mega farms the company will build across the country. The poultry farm, which can produce up to 80 million birds per year, equivalent to 200 million kilos live weight, is set to revolutionize poultry production in the Philippines ensuring a more stable and cost-competitive chicken supply. It will complement San Miguel Foods' existing nationwide contract growing program and provide additional livelihood and business opportunities for local farmers. It is a significant stride towards bolstering the country's food security. San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang said: "Food security is one of the most important issues of our time. Today, we reinforce our support for the Marcos administration in ensuring a food-secure Philippines. Our goal is to provide every Filipino with access to high-quality food at prices within their means. Poultry, one of the most economical source of protein, is vital to achieving this."

Doing good to our farmers: A look at San Miguel’s direct corn-buying program and how it is helping our local farmers nationwide

By Clarissa Viduya • June 27, 2023
Malasakit combined with pag-asa. The stories of struggle, risk, and uncertainties of over 122 corn farmers across the country had a 180-degree turn when the direct corn-buying program of San Miguel Foods was introduced to them. The continuing expansion of the company’s feed milling projects helped resuscitate the stalled economy, with SMF’s purchase of over 35,000 metric tons of corn from local growers this year. Corn is one of the key ingredients in animal feeds.
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