Cargill and ASSIST Turnover Solar-Powered Post-Harvest Facilities for Farmers

Philippines - March 27, 2025 - AgriSagana, a project partnership between Cargill and ASSIST, marks a significant milestone with the official handover of retrofitted post-harvest facilities (PHFs) in the provinces of Cagayan and Quirino. These facilities, installed with solar panels, aim to support and enhance the farmers’ processes and corn yields.

In 2022, the Philippines emitted approximately 155.4 million tons of CO₂, mainly from fossil fuel use (Trading Economics, 2023). Solar-powered facilities help cut emissions, as solar energy produces zero direct CO₂ emissions. A 75 MWac solar project in the country is expected to reduce emissions by 99,100 tons of CO₂ annually (Global Carbon Council, 2023), and every kilowatt-hour of solar energy saves about 0.88 kilograms of CO₂ (Solenergy, 2023). In an exciting step toward sustainability, the retrofitting of six solar-powered post-harvest facilities will significantly impact carbon emission reduction. Additionally, we are poised to save an impressive 594,600 tons of CO₂ annually. This move highlights the transformative potential of renewable energy in combating climate change and advancing environmental responsibility.  Integrating solar technology into agriculture supports emission reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.

Cargill and ASSIST aim to improve Filipino farmers’ lives by enhancing their capacities and providing essential tools while promoting ethical business practices, environmental responsibility, and social impact. Inspired by the Filipino word sagana, meaning "bountiful," the AgriSagana project supports smallholder corn farmers in Cagayan, Isabela, and Quirino through training, infrastructure support, cooperative strengthening, and market linkages. By promoting sustainable practices and improving productivity, the initiative fosters long-term agricultural growth.

AgriSagana prioritizes capacity-building, aiming to train 12,000 farmers through CornVentions and Cooperatives General Assembly (GA) Caravan while strengthening 15 farmer cooperatives to improve governance, services, and accreditation as suppliers to institutional buyers. The project also streamlines post-harvest processes, reduces losses, and boosts productivity, helping farmers mitigate climate change effects, improve product quality, and increase profitability.

The handover strengthens agricultural resilience in Cagayan Valley and reinforces AgriSagana’s commitment to a more sustainable future for Philippine corn farmers.

Beyond AgriSagana, Cargill and ASSIST are also driving sustainability through projects like CocoGrow in Sarangani, Philippines, and Aqua Xanh in Long An, Vietnam. CocoGrow focuses on revitalizing the Philippines’ coconut industry—a major contributor to the country’s economy—by planting high-yielding varieties to enhance global competitiveness while supporting coconut farmers in increasing their income and aligning with Cargill’s sustainability goals. Meanwhile, Aqua Xanh addresses water pollution in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta by tackling climate change effects, improper waste management, and pollution caused by aquaculture activities. By building climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure, Aqua Xanh strengthens the aquaculture industry and improves water quality for both agricultural and domestic use.

Coinciding with the handover, the AgriSagana CornVentions were held in December and February at state college and university campuses in Cagayan, Isabela, and Quirino. Over 1,600 corn farmers attended, representing their cooperatives. These events align with AgriSagana’s mission to equip agricultural stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to navigate climate challenges and enhance crop yields.