Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. (MPAV) will replicate its San Rafael vegetable greenhouse facility in other parts of the country, supporting the Marcos administration's food security goals.
MPAV president and chief executive officer Jovy Hernandez told reporters that the company is eyeing to bring at least two vegetable greenhouse satellites every year, delivering 10 facilities over the next five years.
On Tuesday, MPAV opened the Phase 1 of Metro Pacific Fresh Farms (MPFF), a 22-hectare vegetable greenhouse complex in this town, the largest of its kind in the country. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) chairperson, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan led the ceremonial first harvest of fresh greens from the modern farm.
The first phase of MPFF is composed of six greenhouses covering 3.5 hectares of the property, which has the capacity to produce 500 metric tons of fresh vegetables annually. Using nutrient film technique (NFT) greenhouse technology for leafy vegetables, MPFF can harvest 60,000 lettuce heads per month or 144 MT per year of fresh greens alone.
Harvest for its lettuce farm is every 27 days. Aside from NFT, the farm also uses drip irrigation systems for non-leafy vegetables—all brought by its Israeli partner LR Group.
Hernandez emphasized that these technologies help the Bulacan greenhouse complex to produce quality vegetables year-round. Aside from leafy vegetables, the Bulacan greenhouse facility also produces melons and tomatoes, among others.
The company invested around PHP800 million for the MPFF Phase 1, Hernandez added.
Pangilinan also directed MPAV to accelerate the expansion of MPFF to seven hectares. MPAV chief commercial officer Toby Gatchalian said the company is working on its first greenhouse satellite this year, which could be opened next year.
"We're actually looking at different localities which have a concentration of hotels, restaurants, and resorts. We are in discussion already with several entities for beach estate locations, but not just limited to tourist spots," Gatchalian said.
He added that MPAV is also looking into building greenhouse satellite in northern Luzon to grow strawberries.
Source: Philippines News Agency