Four agri-tech solution projects in different parts of the country geared towards increasing food productivity were granted funding by the National Innovation Council Executive Technical Board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) under its 2023 Innovation Grants.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Friday, the NEDA said the four agri-tech solution projects are among the 25 innovation projects approved by the board with funding allotment totaling PhP100 million.
Among the agri-tech solution projects approved were the Alternative Onion Storage System using Controlled Temperature and Automatic Air Flow Mechanism from the Occidental Mindoro State College and the Project GeoMap: Geospatial Mapping and Information System for Precise Farming and Smart Agriculture from Samar State University.
The ‘Alternative Onion Storage System using Controlled Temperature and Automatic Air Flow Mechanism’ provides for
the construction of a warehouse equipped with an air blow storage system, which offers an alternative method to prolong the life span of onions.
Other agriculture-centered proposal included in the list were the Project GeoMap: Geospatial Mapping and Information System for Precise Farming and Smart Agriculture’’ by proponents from the Samar State University; and the TABU: A Mobile Application as an E-Commerce Tool for the Agricultural Industry in Eastern Visayas by proponents from the Eastern Visayas State University.
The proposal of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) titled ‘Artificial Intelligence for Impact-based forecasting and early warning system for inclusive finance and strengthening of local economic development in Rice-Based Farming Communities’ also made it to the list.
The 2023 Innovation Grants project is aligned with the efforts to promote local innovation in national development and sustainable economic growth, as outlined under the Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act.
This year’s proponents came from government agencies and offices, including State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), with projects covering various fields such as from agri-tech solutions and AR/VR education platforms to smart data-driven policies, disaster preparedness, and cultural heritage preservation, showcasing “the creativity of Filipino innovation actors as well as the vibrant and dynamic landscape of innovation across all regions,” NEDA said.
“We congratulate all the successful innovation grantees, and we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with each of you. This is Filipinnovation,” NEDA stated.
A complete list of the approved projects is available on NEDA’s official Facebook page. PND
