DAVAO CITY: Agriculture must embrace Industry 5.0 as the sector grapples with climate change, labour constraints, rising input costs and growing food security concerns.
Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said advanced technology could no longer be treated as optional in transforming the sector.
“Industry 5.0 is no longer an option for agriculture. It is a necessity,” he said.
He said this in his keynote address at the ASEAN Innovation Summit 2026 at SMX Convention Center Lanang here today (Sept 19), according to a post on his Facebook page.
Rundi said the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as unpredictable weather had exposed vulnerabilities in food systems.
He said disruptions to the supply of fertiliser, animal feed, fuel and machinery had pushed up production costs and food prices.
“We cannot build the agriculture of tomorrow using the approaches of yesterday. We must change,” he said, adding that the biggest challenge was changing mindsets.
Rundi said digitalisation would be a game changer for agriculture, but technology alone would not be enough to drive the sector forward.
He said farmers must move beyond producing raw commodities and become entrepreneurs who create value, develop brands and access higher-value markets.
At the same time, he said policymakers must ensure technology is accessible to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while supporting research, industry collaboration and investment in digital infrastructure and skills.
“Policymakers must move beyond being providers of assistance to become enablers of transformation.
“The government must provide the ecosystem, but enterprises and farmers must take ownership of the transformation,” he added.
Rundi said MSMEs should also take an active role in driving Industry 5.0 instead of waiting for technological changes to reach them.
He stressed that Industry 5.0 was about people and machines working together, rather than technology replacing workers.
“MSMEs must not wait for Industry 5.0 to arrive; they must be the ones driving it,” he said.
He also called for closer ASEAN cooperation in strengthening regional food systems through knowledge sharing and cross-border collaboration.
Organised by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII), the summit themed ‘ASEAN Innovation: MSMEs at the Forefront of Industry 5.0’ brought together business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and academics from across the region.
