Delaware, Ohio: Building stronger ties and sharing insights with a key trading partner were the main goals for Karyn Forman, a farmer from Loveland, Ohio, and member of the Ohio Corn Checkoff Board of Directors, during a recent U.S.–Philippine trade mission aimed at boosting cooperation on ethanol and feed grain development, reports Morning Ag Communications.
Forman joined officials from the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC), the Philippine Department of Agriculture, and industry leaders to discuss how U.S. corn can support the Philippines’ efforts to increase energy independence and strengthen its rural economy.
“This trip highlighted how collaboration between the U.S. and the Philippines can bring real benefits to farmers in both countries,” Forman said. “The Philippines is moving toward adopting an E20 fuel standard, which presents major opportunities to grow both ethanol and feed grain markets.”
The meetings took place alongside the Philippine National Corn Congress, the country’s largest gathering of corn producers. After the event, the delegation visited Isabela Province, one of the country’s top corn-growing regions, to tour ethanol facilities and meet with local farmers.
During the mission, Philippine officials expressed interest in expanding domestic ethanol production through U.S. investment in infrastructure and technology. Currently, U.S. ethanol helps meet the country’s E10 fuel requirement. Transitioning to E20 could more than double ethanol demand to around 360 million gallons, creating new trade opportunities.
“By working together on biofuel development, Ohio corn growers are gaining a strong partner committed to expanding ethanol use for the long term,” Forman said.
The U.S.–Philippine agricultural partnership continues to grow, strengthened by a recent trade agreement that widens market access for U.S. farm products, including ethanol and distillers dried grains (DDGs). Trade missions like this, officials said, play an important role in sustaining that progress.
