University of The Philippines Los Banos (UPLB)-Eunice Dianne Algar
A team of graduate students from UPLB has qualified in the top 20 of the Agri-Aqua Innovation Challenge 2024 of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) for Farm Mate, a mobile application that they designed to provide real-time information and tools to farmers.
The team, led by Melanie Baguio, a candidate for a PhD in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, includes Engr. John Mark Marquez and Engr. Hannah Kei Gibe, both pursuing their master’s in the same field.
Farm Mate features real-time monitoring of cropping patterns and calendars, a spatial distribution map of planted crops, local weather and climate data, farm inputs and distribution, market supply and demand, crop control applications, fertilizer applications, crop damages, and market information.
With the other teams, the group will participate in a two-month training and mentorship program hosted by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) as an industry partner. The program will focus on three key areas: customer development, product development, and business development.
The training will be followed by pitching sessions where teams will receive feedback and insights from various mentors.
The top teams will then advance to a demo day featuring a panel of mentors, potential investors, partners, and clients. Corresponding grants will be awarded to finalists and placers.
The Agri-Aqua Innovation Challenge is a year-long program organized by DOST-PCAARRD, AIM, and MAP to support agriculture and aquaculture startups in refining their innovations to address the pressing challenges of the country’s agriculture and aquaculture sectors. (Eunice Dianne Algar)
