Exhibiting at IFEX Philippines 2025

The ORGANIC PRODUCERS' TRADE ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES, INC. (OPTA Philippines) is a premier national non-profit organization based in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Established to advocate for organic agriculture, OPTA plays a critical role in uniting producers, traders, consumers, and certification bodies to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices across the Philippines.

Core Business

OPTA Philippines serves as a national umbrella organization for organic stakeholders in the country. Its primary functions include:

• Promotion and education of organic agriculture
• Advocacy for organic certification and standards
• Linkage of smallholder farmers with domestic and export markets

It operates as a key industry body, facilitating dialogue among policy makers, farmers, exporters, and consumers, while promoting certified organic production as a viable, eco-friendly livelihood.

Product and Service Offerings

• Capacity Building:
  • Organic farming training and workshops
  • Post-harvest and value-addition seminars
• Standards & Certification Support:
  • Assistance in obtaining Organic Certification through recognized third parties
  • Compliance support with Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture (PNS/BAFPS)
• Trade Development:
  • Participation in local and international organic trade fairs
  • Market linkage programs for small and medium organic enterprises

Specialisation and Core USP

• Serves as the national voice of the organic movement in the Philippines.
• Focuses on building a certified organic value chain, from farm to market.
• Maintains active partnerships with government bodies like Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS).
• Recognized for its inclusive, farmer-first approach and advocacy for indigenous farming methods.

Financials

As a non-profit organization, OPTA is primarily funded through:

• Membership dues
• Grants from international development agencies
• Project-based government funding

Annual financials are not disclosed publicly but reflect operations consistent with regional NGO-scale initiatives supporting agriculture and rural development.

Shipment and Export Records

While OPTA itself does not export, it enables export readiness for organic producers through training and accreditation. Its members, including farmer cooperatives and SMEs, export products such as:

• Organic muscovado sugar
• Virgin coconut oil
• Bananas and tropical fruits

These exports reach countries such as Japan, South Korea, USA, and Germany through OPTA-supported programs.

Target Market

• Smallholder and large-scale organic farmers
• Food processors seeking organic certification
• Organic food buyers and exporters
• Government and NGO agricultural partners

Capabilities

• National coverage with members from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao
• Technical experts on organic conversion and compliance
• Policy engagement with DA, BAFS, and National Organic Agriculture Board
• Organizing Organic Producers Expositions and industry summits

Certifications and Compliance

• Aligned with Philippine Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (RA 10068)
• Member entities certified by BAFS-accredited organic certifiers such as NICERT, OCCP, and CERES
• Facilitates compliance with IFOAM standards for global recognition

Customer Testimonials

“OPTA helped us navigate the complexity of organic certification. We are now a certified VCO exporter with access to Japan.”
— Cooperative Head, Davao del Sur

“Their workshops changed our approach to farming. We’ve shifted from chemicals to organic and improved our market access.”
— Smallholder Farmer, Nueva Ecija

Major Achievements

• Instrumental in shaping the Organic Agriculture Roadmap 2022–2026
• Hosted the Philippine Organic Trade Fair and National Organic Agriculture Congress
• Recognized partner of DA-BAR and BAFS in training over 5,000 organic practitioners nationwide
• Supported dozens of micro-enterprises in gaining international organic certification