Filipinos eating more but growing less
Stagnant farms linked to widening rice gap
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In the ten years leading up to 2023, total production of palay (unmilled rice) grew just 9 percent, from 18.4 to 20.1 million metric tons, even as rice consumption and the population itself continued to rise. Rice farmland barely expanded, increasing by just 1 percent (from 4.7 to 4.8 million hectares), while average yields improved by only 7 percent, from 3.9 to 4.2 metric tons per hectare.
view moreCredit: Bartelet et al, 2025
As of 2022 alone, Filipinos were eating 2.3 million metric tons more rice than the country produced—an 18 percent shortfall that has locked the Philippines into deeper dependence on imported rice despite years of government programs to boost local harvests.
This widening gap is the focus of new research from Ateneo de Manila University’s John Gokongwei School of Management and Department of Environmental Science. They found that national rice output has been largely stagnant since 2017, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In the ten years leading up to 2023, total production of palay (unmilled rice) grew just 9 percent, from 18.4 to 20.1 million metric tons, even as rice consumption and the population itself continued to rise. Rice farmland barely expanded, increasing by just 1 percent (from 4.7 to 4.8 million hectares), while average yields improved by only 7 percent, from 3.9 to 4.2 metric tons per hectare.
The myth of urbanization
Contrary to the common belief that urbanization encroaches on farmland and takes away farmland resources, the researchers did not find strong evidence that city expansion alone explains farmland stagnation. Instead, they point to a combination of limited farmland expansion, slow yield growth, climate shocks, and uneven public investment in rice areas as the main constraints on domestic production.
This is borne out by sharp regional contrasts that emerged from the data. On the one hand, from 2018 to 2023, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) saw rice production decline by 15 percent and 11 percent, respectively, largely due to rice farmland loss; stagnant yields; repeated typhoons and droughts; and competition as farmers divert land use to other, more profitable crops.
And yet, on the other hand, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) increased its rice output by 40 percent, while Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Ilocos (Region I) posted gains of 27 percent and 16 percent, respectively. These gains are linked to expanding irrigated areas, better yields, and support programs such as improved seed, farm mechanization, and targeted regional initiatives.
Moreover, seed programs to help ensure robust crops and mechanization aid towards improving rice harvesting and processing have helped boost yield, while infrastructure expansion and regional government policies have helped with farmland expansion. In the particular case of the BARMM, increased rice yields are linked to dedicated investments in rice infrastructure on top of peace dividends in the wake of improved political stability in the region.
Better infrastructure and support needed
Despite the establishment and subsequent extension until 2031 of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under the Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203), the authors note that national programs alone have not been enough to lift productivity in lagging regions.
The successes of the BARMM, Cagayan Valley, and Ilocos may provide insights toward boosting rice production in other regions; and the experiences from less successful regions may give lessons toward avoiding the same declines elsewhere. Closing the country’s growing rice deficit will require regionally tailored, climate-resilient strategies: stronger irrigation systems, better-targeted support services, and financial measures that lower farmers’ costs, according to the Ateneo researchers. The researchers expressed optimism that, with the right complement of policies and investments, local rice production can still grow and help narrow the country’s dependence on imported grain.
Henry A. Bartelet, Alenn Jhulia D. Prodigalidad, Janelle S. Dy, and Jan Gabriel N. Manzano published their paper, Understanding rice production stagnation in the Philippines: Regional evidence and development implications, in the open-access journal PLOS One.
For interview requests and other inquiries, please email media.research@ateneo.edu. Visit archium.ateneo.edu for more information about our latest research and innovations.
Journal
PLOS One
Method of Research
Data/statistical analysis
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Understanding rice production stagnation in the Philippines: Regional evidence and development implications
Eating alone linked to poorer nutrition in older adults
Flinders University
Older adults who regularly eat meals alone are more likely to experience poorer nutrition and health outcomes than those who share meals with others, new research by Flinders University has found.
The systematic review, published in the journal Appetite, collated findings from 20 international studies examining the relationship between eating alone and measurable health outcomes among community-living adults aged 65 years and over.
The research found consistent associations between eating alone and poorer diet quality, reduced intake of key food groups such as fruit, vegetables and meat, and an increased risk of weight loss and frailty.
Lead author Caitlin Wyman, an Accredited Practising Dietitian and PhD candidate in Flinders’ Caring Futures Institute, says the findings highlight the importance of social connections for older people, especially at mealtimes.
“Food is more than the nutritional benefit it provides. Sharing a meal is an important social activity that can influence appetite, dietary variety, and overall wellbeing,” says Ms Wyman, from Flinders’ College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“We knew from previous research that feelings of loneliness and social isolation can contribute to reduced food intake, but we had yet to explore the nutritional and physical outcomes of older adults eating alone versus with others.”
Drawing on data from over 80,000 older adults across 12 countries, the review revealed that the social setting of eating can have wide-ranging impacts.
While a small number of studies found no difference in nutritional outcomes, the majority showed that eating alone was linked to poorer food choices and lower intake of protein-rich foods, which are important for maintenance of muscle and functional ability.
Some studies also found that eating alone was associated with a greater likelihood of weight loss and an elevated risk of frailty.
The authors say these findings point to mealtime behaviour as a potentially modifiable risk factor for poor nutrition in older age, amongst Australia’s ageing population.
“We know that ageing brings physiological changes such as reduced hunger cues and altered taste, but our findings suggest that social factors are equally important,” says Ms Wyman.
“Eating together fosters connection, enjoyment and nourishment. Encouraging opportunities for shared meals, whether that’s with family, friends, or community programs, could help improve food intake, nutritional status and quality of life for older adults living at home.”
Co-author and Flinders University researcher and Accredited Practising Dietitian Dr Alison Yaxley says the review supports integrating social and nutritional screening into routine aged care and primary healthcare practices.
“Simple questions about mealtime habits could help identify people at higher nutritional risk,” says Dr Yaxley, from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“By recognising the link between social isolation and nutrition, health professionals can connect older adults with community meal programs or social dining opportunities that have the potential to make a real difference.”
The authors suggest that community-based initiatives, such as neighbourhood meal groups, intergenerational dining programs, or local café partnerships, could help reduce the prevalence of eating alone among older Australians.
“The recent aged care reforms present a great opportunity to integrate food and nutrition into home-based aged care in Australia and optimise the nutritional status and overall health of the growing number of older adults living in our community,” says Ms Wyman.
Further research is needed to explore what strategies can best encourage regular shared meals in this population and how they can be best implemented.
The paper, ‘Associations between nutritional and physical outcomes of community-dwelling older adults eating alone versus with others: A systematic review’ by Caitlin Wyman, Jolene Thomas, Michael Lawless and Alison Yaxley, is published in Appetite. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108327
Journal
Appetite
Method of Research
Systematic review
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Associations between nutritional and physical outcomes of community-dwelling older adults eating alone versus with others: A systematic review
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