MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that global agriculture is confronting an intensified mix of risks, as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and disease outbreaks simultaneously disrupt food systems and challenge government responses.

Speaking at a post-ministerial workshop on April 24 in Pasay City following the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, Tiu Laurel said the role of agriculture chief has grown more difficult due to overlapping crises affecting both production and trade.

“I guess we started in a negative note. In a sense, we are in the wild, wild west at this moment,” he said. “I think it’s also the worst time to be the secretary of agriculture.”

He cited increasingly erratic weather patterns linked to climate change, including recurring El Niño and La Niña cycles that have disrupted planting and harvest timelines. These challenges, he said, are compounded by ongoing outbreaks of animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza, which continue to affect livestock supply and pricing.

Tiu Laurel also pointed to geopolitical factors, including the war in Ukraine and lingering effects of the pandemic, which have triggered supply chain disruptions and periodic export restrictions on key commodities. He said such developments are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader trend of global instability.

Drawing from his background in business, the agriculture chief said uncertainty in trade and supply chains is not new, but noted the scale and frequency of disruptions have intensified.

“As a businessman before, this is kind of normal,” he said. “Sometimes exports are cut, there is ASF here, bird flu there, supply chains are disrupted. So I kind of see this as normal, but a little bit extreme this time.”

He said governments need to adopt more agile and commercially oriented approaches to managing risks. In the Philippines, he identified production inefficiency—particularly high costs driven by gaps in infrastructure and logistics—as a major concern.

“What we have to tackle is the low cost of producing products, which would involve infrastructure and logistics,” he said.

Tiu Laurel added that while the country performs relatively well in product quality and marketing, improving cost competitiveness is crucial to ensuring stable domestic supply and enhancing export capacity.

Despite the challenges, he emphasized the importance of multilateral engagement, describing the World Trade Organization as a key platform for dialogue amid fragmented global trade conditions.

“As a venue alone, it is already important,” he said. “A place where people can talk and meet always helps, especially in situations like this.”

His remarks reflect growing concerns among policymakers over the increasingly interconnected nature of climate, health, and geopolitical risks shaping the future of agriculture and food security.