Metro Pacific Investments Corp., through its agri-food unit Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), plans to put up 10 satellite greenhouses to grow vegetables all over the country within five years.
These satellite greenhouses are intended to serve areas with high concentration of hotels, restaurants and supermarket chains, said Jovy Hernandez, MPAV president and chief executive officer, on the sidelines of the company’s ceremonial first harvest of vegetables in its 3.5-hectare greenhouse in San Rafael, Bulacan.
MPAV said its projects, which use hydroponics technology, are ideal in island tourist destinations and areas with no capability to grow supplies locally.
According to Hernandez, the plan is to put up two satellite greenhouses annually within five years but declined to disclose the amount needed for the venture.
MPAV said the satellite greenhouses would measure at least one hectare.
The company also said its vegetable produce, marketed under the brand More Veggies Please, will be sold in major grocery chains including SM, Robinsons, Metro and Landers among others.
More Veggies Please will be available in Metro Manila, with plans to expand partnerships in the coming months in other regions.
MPAV said the Metro Pacific Fresh Farms (MPFF) greenhouse in Bulacan alone is expected to produce up to 500 metric tons (MT) of fresh produce annually.
The first phase of MPFF, which costs P800 million to build, is expected to produce up to 144 MT of leafy greens per year, five times higher than the output of a traditional farm.
“While 47 percent of the country’s land is agricultural, issues like low output, high input costs, lack of post-harvest facilities, and outdated irrigation systems hinder production. MPFF offers a solution by providing reliable supply of high-quality fresh produce for all Filipinos, but especially for businesses and retailers that require consistent, high-quality sourcing,” Hernandez said.
MPFF’s greenhouse facility is equipped with a technology developed by Israeli agribusiness company LR Group utilizing nutrient film technique for leafy greens and drip irrigation systems for other vegetable types.
MPAV said this technology allows for a more efficient way of growing produce at a fraction of the resources normally required in conventional agriculture.
The company said that this technology also allows high-quality vegetables to grow using 90 percent less water and land, and it has minimal environmental impact as it is operated in a controlled environment that reduces the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers
“This not only ensures a safer, healthier choice for consumers but also guarantees that we are able to provide consistent quality year-round especially for business and other institutions that struggle with inconsistent supply quality,” Hernandez said.
MPFF has existing supply partnerships with hotels, restaurants and hospitals which it declined to specify.
Apart from vegetable production, MPAV plans to beef up its dairy cow herd business.
Hernandez said MPAV and LR Group’s joint dairy farm project in Laguna is set to receive 220 pregnant dairy cows from Australia which are expected to deliver calves by August and produce milk as early as September.
MPAV said its current milk output capacity started at 500,000 liters but ended at 1 million liters in 2024.
Hernandez said the additional dairy cows will further improve the company’s current annual milk output up to 2 million liters with an overall target to reach 10 million liters per year by 2027.
