Key Takeaways:
- Bayan Family of Foundations & Mayani, in collaboration with HSBC Philippines, is launching a cooperative-based rural development model.
- The initiative aims to support smallholder farmers and fisherfolk with regenerative practices and climate-resilient technologies.
- On-farm investments will include smart greenhouses, precision agriculture, and digital tools for cooperative governance.
- The project targets vulnerable food corridors in Luzon and Visayas, with expansion to Mindanao in 2026.
- Mayani is also mobilizing additional climate investments to scale long-term sustainable agriculture outcomes.
Bayan-Mayani Plays Central Role in Cooperative-Based Climate Adaptation Strategy
Building Resilient Food Systems Through Philanthropic and Development Partnerships
Mayani, a leading agritech platform in the Philippines, is one of the key implementers of a new initiative that supports smallholder-led agricultural cooperatives in adapting to climate change. In partnership with HSBC Philippines and the Bayan Family of Foundations, the initiative is funded through philanthropic capital to drive regenerative practices and digital transformation in rural agriculture.
This project is designed to address the dual vulnerability of farmers and fisherfolk—who are both central to the country’s food supply and most exposed to climate risks. The collaboration is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those targeting hunger reduction, climate action, and inequality.
Climate-Smart Tools and Infrastructure at the Core of Bayan-Mayani’s Strategy
Cooperative Model Emphasizes Regeneration and Market Readiness
The model introduced by Mayani and its partners focuses on clustered agricultural cooperatives that integrate indigenous knowledge, adopt cooperative governance principles, and embrace smallholder-centric technologies. Key capital investments include:
- Smart greenhouses and climate-controlled environments
- Precision agriculture systems
- Digital tools for farm management and market connectivity
The initiative also includes the creation of a cooperative development manual to support knowledge transfer and replicability of best practices across the archipelago.
Bayan-Mayani Expands Focus Beyond Luzon and Visayas
Mindanao to Join Cooperative Development Efforts in 2026
The first phase of implementation will target climate-vulnerable food corridors in Luzon and Visayas throughout 2025. A planned second phase in 2026 will expand to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), an area with fragile peace but significant agricultural potential.
By focusing on BARMM, Mayani and its partners hope to intersect agricultural development with broader objectives such as peacebuilding, economic recovery, and local food security.
Bayan-Mayani Pursues Additional Climate Capital to Bridge National Finance Gaps
Building Scalable Models for Rural Inclusion
With the Philippines facing an estimated $72 billion climate finance gap, Mayani is collaborating with Co-Axis of Temasek Trust to crowd in further co-investments to extend the program’s reach. HSBC’s initial philanthropic support is seen as a catalytic step toward attracting long-term funding to scale sustainable food systems.
Ochie San Juan, Co-Founder and Chief Farmer at Mayani, emphasized the need for proactive responses to recurring climate events, stating: “The sheer gravity and frequency of these climate hazards would eventually require their own nomenclature. It’s high-time we tackle them head on.”
Mayani
Mayani is a full-stack agri-fisheries value chain platform enabling smallholder farmers and fisherfolk to access markets, agricultural inputs, and credit. It sources directly from over 139,000 organized producers and supplies more than 30,000 retail customers and 230+ commercial outlets across the Philippines.
Recognized by institutions such as ADB and BPI, Mayani is backed by a global coalition of investors including AgFunder, Plug and Play Ventures, OSK Group, and Waltermart. The company aims to unlock the $20B potential of the Philippine agri-fisheries sector through supply chain efficiency, equitable access, and grassroots innovation.
