Who We Are

About Us

The Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA) is the agri-food research and instruction arm of the University of Asia and and the Pacific School of Management.

It has been at the forefront of food and agribusiness research since 1983. It conducts industry, policy and strategy studies geared at enhancing the agri-food sector’s competitiveness.

A Group of Experts

Our Team

The Center for Food and Agri Business is composed of specialists and experts on different agri-food sectors. Each one has years of dedication and experience on their chosen field.

  • Meet the Team

    DR. ROLANDO T. DY has been an observer of international agriculture development for over 30 years. He started as an economist at the World Bank and worked on agriculture projects in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand. He has done consulting work for the Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Japan Bank for International Cooperation, World Bank, industry associations, private corporations, and government agencies.

    Dr. Dy completed a BS in Engineering degree at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, an MS in Industrial Economics from the Center for Research and Communication, and a Ph.D in Development Management from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. for a course on Economies of Pacific Asia, and the Australian APEC Study Centre for a course on Policy Reforms and Structural Adjustments in Agriculture. He is an alumnus of the IESE Business School International Faculty Program in Spain.

    Dr. Dy is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA) of the UA&P. He was former Dean of the UA&P’s School of Management for six years. He is currently Vice President of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) and a member of the Management Association of the Philippines. He is Commercial Crops Coordinator of Agriculture-Fisheries 2025.  He was visiting lecturer in agribusiness at PAD Business School in Peru. He is the author of the books Agribusiness and Rural Progress: Actions for Poverty Reduction (2017)Agribusiness and Inclusive Growth: An Expert’s Advocacy (2015), and Food for Thought: How Agribusiness is Feeding the World (2009), and co-author of The Business of Agribusiness: From the Roots to the Fruits (2011), and The Road Less Traveled: Project Development by LGUs for LGUs (2010).

    Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul is a Senior Agribusiness Specialist at the UA&P. She conducts research on food and agribusiness and teaches Business Statistics to undergraduate students. Among her consultancies are those with the ASEAN Secretariat, Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program/USAID, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)-Manila, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)-Manila, Shell Philippines Exploration, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), World Bank, Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Sugar Alliance, Sikap /Strive Foundation, and Tuna Canners Association of the Philippines. Prior to joining the UA&P in 1999, she was a research assistant at the College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).  She was also on the faculty of the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, UP Visayas.

    Ms. Dacul obtained her MS in Agricultural Economics and BS in Statistics from UPLB and currently finishing her doctorate at the De La Salle University.

    Ditas R. Macabasco is a Senior Agribusiness Specialist at the UA&P. She is involved in various research projects in food and agribusiness. Her previous project engagements include USDA, JETRO – Manila, the Italian Trade Commission, GTZ-Manila, USAIDMOST, DA, PCAFI-Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), IBS Consulting, CRC Foundation and SIKAP/STRIVE Foundation. . She is a former instructor at the UPLB’s Department of Agricultural Economics. She worked for projects under USAID Winrock International and UNDP-DENR prior to her stint at the UA&P.

    Ms. Macabasco is a graduate of BS Agricultural Business and MS Agricultural Economics from the UPLB

    Senen U. Reyes is currently with the UA&P-CFA as a Senior Management Specialist. He has been involved in several research projects for various institutions like the World Bank, USDA-Manila, Italian Trade Commission-Manila, GTZ-Manila, JETRO-Manila, Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) [Japan], DFAT-Australia, USAIDMOST, Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company, Department of Agriculture, CRC Foundation, SIKAP/STRIVE Foundation, Philippine Sugar Alliance, PCAFI- TESDA, and IBS Consulting.  His fields of experience include project/market analysis, industry/cluster analysis, agri-food business, and supply/value chain. He has written several articles in the Food and Agri Business Monitor and also lectures in public seminars and post-graduate programs. Prior to his stint at the UA&P, he was connected with the National Food Authority (NFA) and occupied various positions such as management and audit analyst, internal auditor, senior management specialist, and information systems analyst.

    Mr. Reyes finished his BS in Agricultural Engineering at UPLB.  While still with the NFA, he was awarded a scholarship under the first batch of the Civil Service Commission-Local Scholarship Program where he earned his Master in Business Administration degree from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

    Joy Kristel L. Orzales is an Agribusiness Specialist at the UA&P-CFA.  She is the Managing Editor of the Food and Agri Business Monitor, a bi-monthly magazine of CFA-UA&P.  She assists the senior staff in data gathering, analysis, and report writing.  She spearheads the planning and marketing of publication, briefings and seminars of the unit.  She has written several articles in the Food and Agri Business Monitor.  She also handles the social media accounts of CFA.

    Ms. Orzales obtained her BS in Social Sciences (Major in Economics, Minor in Political Science) from UP Baguio.  She is currently taking her Masters in Rural Development at the Central Luzon State University and Applied Business Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific.  She also finished her training in Digital Marketing from CIIT and Applied Statistical Forecasting from UP School of Statistics.

    Natacia Ann I. Esguerra is an Administrative Assistant in UA&P-CFA.  Ms. Esguerra assists the Executive Director and other senior staff with their administrative needs.  She also assists in marketing and planning of conferences and helps maintain the social media accounts of the unit.

    Before joining UA&P, she has already worked with companies such as Global Art, Jescom, Philippine Estates Corp., and Philippine Science Centrum.

    Ms. Esguerra obtained her AB in Mass Communications from St. Joseph College of Quezon City.  She finished her training in Digital Marketing from CIIT.

Our Works

What We Do

The Center for Food and Agri Business offers research work, seminars, conferences, certification programs, and publications.


The Center for Food and Agri Business (CFA) is the agri-food research and instruction arm of the University of Asia and and the Pacific. It has been at the forefront of food and agribusiness research since 1983. It conducts industry, policy and strategy studies geared at enhancing the agri-food sector’s competitiveness. Research and Projects Capability

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Food and Agri Business Conference This conference is held every July and December. It is a semi-annual (mid-year and year-end) conference that gathers together managers, investors, planners and policy-makers in the agri-food sector. The conference provides a venue for discussing the following: Trends and performance of selected agri-food industries Challenges and implications Coping mechanisms and future

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Magazine Food and Agri Business Monitor (FAM) The FAM is a monthly magazine that features short articles on selected agri-food industries. Books Agribusiness and Rural Progress: Actions for Poverty Reduction A new book that calls for action on poverty reduction through a revitalized agribusiness sector… Written by agribusiness expert Rolando T. Dy, “Agribusiness and Rural Progress: Actions for Poverty Reduction”

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The Agribusiness Executives’ Program (AEP) is a 6-month Certificate Program designed to develop the managerial, analytical and strategic thinking skills of executives and managers.  Both content and design are based on a comprehensive needs analysis and innovative design process done in collaboration with agribusiness industry practitioners and experts. OBJECTIVES ¨ Develop analytical and decision-making skills for

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Books & Magazines

Publications

Long awaited books on agribusiness and monthly magazine.

  • Read FAM anytime and anywhere

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  • Be Informed and Updated!

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  • A new book will be out tomorrow!

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  • FAM Insider: Feb 2017

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Latest News

Our Blog

2023 Mid-Year Food and Agribusiness Conference

The University of Asia and the Pacific is pleased to invite you to its MID-YEAR FOOD AND AGRI BUSINESS E-CONFERENCE with the theme “Harnessing the Power of Collaboration in Philippine Food and Agribusiness: Strengthening Partnerships across the Value and Supply Chain.” This will be an online conference on July 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM. The

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AEP is now accepting applications!

The Center for Food and Agri Business is now accepting applications for the 2023 cohort of the Agribusiness Executives’ Program (AEP). The AEP is a 6-month Certificate Program designed to develop the managerial, analytical and strategic thinking skills of executives and managers. Both content and design are based on a comprehensive needs analysis and innovative design process done in collaboration with agribusiness industry

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AEP is back this 2022!

The Center for Food and Agri Business of the University of Asia and the Pacific is accepting applications for the Agribusiness Executives’ Program. Deadline of submission is on July 16, 2022. The program will run from August 2022 to February 2023. Here are the important dates: Application requirements: Please send applications to [email protected]. For more

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Get in touch

Contact Us

Let’s get in touch!  We’d like to hear from you.

CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRI BUSINESS
University of Asia and the Pacific
6/F APEC Communications Building (ACB)
Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center 1605 Pasig City
Philippines

Tel: (02) 8637-0912 to 26 loc. 247/345, 8634-2819  | Email: [email protected]  |  Fax: (02) 8633-8349

(We are currently working from home.  You can contact us through email)

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visit us: CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRI BUSINESS University of Asia and the Pacific 3/F Administration and Library Building (ALB) Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center Pasig City 1605