SMC’s Backyard Bukid: Cultivating Urban Farming and Community Wellness

San Miguel Corp’s (SMC) initiative, Backyard Bukid, initially kickstarted in 2021 to support service personnel during the pandemic, has blossomed into a flourishing urban farm at the company’s head office complex. The project, now home to 39 varieties of flowering plants and vegetables, has transformed into a vibrant hub for employee wellness, volunteerism, and agricultural training.

Expanding beyond its initial scope, the urban farm, featuring a plant nursery and 80 garden plots, has recently undergone further growth through a partnership with Urban Farmers PH. This collaboration has enriched the diversity of produce at Backyard Bukid, introducing an array of farmyard staples alongside exotic varieties like kale, romaine lettuce, and other salad greens.

Ramon S. Ang, SMC President and CEO, expressed his pride in the project’s evolution, emphasizing its role not just in promoting urban agriculture but also as a platform for skill-building and collaboration among support staff. He acknowledged the crucial support of Urban Farmers PH in enhancing the project and voiced aspirations to replicate the initiative across more facilities, engage a broader employee base, and inspire other companies to adopt similar practices.

Urban Farmers PH, a visionary in transforming underutilized urban spaces into productive farms, has been instrumental in the project’s expansion. Founder Louie Gutierrez highlighted the pandemic’s lesson on the importance of utilizing idle city spaces for agriculture, hoping that the initiative would inspire more individuals and organizations to invest in urban farming as a sustainable solution for future food security.

The success of SMC’s Backyard Bukid is evident in its comprehensive harvest cycle and the community-centric approach to distributing the produce. Harvested goods are shared among members, sold to employees, or utilized in the company’s welfare initiatives, like the daily feeding program at the Better World Tondo community center.

In addition to Backyard Bukid, SMC’s commitment to agriculture and community welfare is reflected in its numerous projects, such as Better World Diliman and the Agripreneurship Scholarship program. These initiatives collectively support local farmers, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and aim to reduce food waste while nurturing a culture of self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship.

As SMC continues to pioneer in integrating urban farming into corporate practice, Backyard Bukid stands as a testament to the potential of collaborative, community-focused initiatives in reshaping urban landscapes and fostering a greener, more sustainable future.