PH embassy in Canada explores fertilizer sourcing partnership with Saskatchewan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, through its embassy in Canada, has expressed interest to source fertilizers, especially potash, from Saskatchewan amid rising fertilizer costs triggered by the Middle East war. Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga met with Warren Kaeding, minister of trade and export development of Saskatchewan province, to discuss trade and investment opportunities. Chan-Gonzaga expressed the Philippines’ interest in sourcing fertilizers from Saskatchewan, the embassy said. The ambassador stressed the "need for a stable, reliable [fertilizer] supply amid global constraints." Kaeding "identified potential suppliers and offered to facilitate connections with industry stakeholders," the embassy said. Máximo Torero, the chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said FAO projections indicated that global fertilizer prices could average 15 to 20 percent higher in the first half of 2026 if the crisis persists. “Farmers are facing a dual cost shock: they have more expensive fertilizers alongside rising fuel costs affecting the entire agricultural value chain, including irrigation and transport,” Torero said. Saskatchewan is the leading supplier of potash, non-durum wheat, and dry peas to the Philippines, supporting the country’s agricultural and agri-food requirements. They also discussed collaboration in sustainable agriculture and agri-technology. They also considered collaboration in training, technology, and long-term nuclear fuel supply. "The meeting highlighted the growing partnership between the Philippines and Saskatchewan, underpinned by the province’s Filipino community of nearly 50,000," the embassy posted on Facebook. Kaeding acknowledged the vital role of Filipinos in rural areas, healthcare, potash mining, and agriculture, noting their contributions to community revitalization and economic growth throughout Saskatchewan. Both parties discussed opportunities in nuclear energy development, including the Philippines’ interest in small modular reactor technology. Kaeding cited Saskatchewan’s progress "in carbon capture and its transition from coal to nuclear power, as well as new opportunities in critical minerals such as uranium, lithium, helium, and copper, and invited Philippine investors to participate," the embassy said. Saskatchewan is a dominant supplier of essential commodities, with exports to the Philippines exceeding $121 million in 2024.