OPFBEX 2026 food forum brings business, tourism, agriculture and technology leaders together
Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and stakeholders gathered at the Food Forward Forum 2026 on Saturday, September 19, at Meeting Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center Clark, as part of the ongoing One Pampanga Food and Beverages Expo (OPFBEX) 2026.
Carrying the theme “Shaping the Future of Food: From Farm to Business to Community,” the forum explored key issues and opportunities shaping the Philippine food ecosystem—from agriculture and food security to business expansion, innovation, tourism and investment.
The program opened with an introduction to the Pampanga Business Circle, followed by welcome remarks and an overview of the Food Forward initiative.
Among the featured discussions was “Building Filipino Food Brands for the Future,” led by Chef Felix Niño Asuncion, Pruds S. Garcia and Jun Sy, which highlighted the importance of developing Filipino food brands that can compete and grow in wider markets.
Mark Villaflor tackled “Scaling Filipino Businesses: From Local to Bigger Markets,” focusing on opportunities and strategies for Filipino enterprises seeking growth beyond their local markets.
The forum also featured Department of Tourism – Region 3 Director Dr. Richard Daenos, who discussed “Innovation, Technology & the Future of Business,” emphasizing the role of innovation and technology in strengthening business competitiveness and scalability.
For the tourism sector, Arrey Perez led the discussion on “Food, Destinations & the Tourism Economy,” highlighting the connection between food, tourism and destination development, including opportunities in culinary and food tourism.
Felix Niño Asuncion also shared insights on “Agriculture, Food Security & the Future of Philippine Food,” underscoring the importance of strengthening the food supply chain and creating opportunities from farm to market.
The forum further examined “The Entrepreneur’s Role in Building What’s Next,” placing entrepreneurs at the center of efforts to shape a more innovative and sustainable Philippine food industry.
A Food Forward Panel followed, bringing together the speakers and participants to discuss where the industry goes from here, with key focus areas including food security, food sustainability, food technology, food investment, Filipino food brands and global competitiveness, culinary tourism, destination development, and opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen the Philippine food ecosystem through farm-to-market opportunities, innovation and technology, MSME growth and scalability, and public-private partnerships.
The afternoon forum concluded with an audience question-and-answer session and a Food Forward Commitment and Closing, reinforcing the shared responsibility of businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, government and communities in building a stronger and more future-ready Philippine food sector.
