4 agri-tech solutions to get P100 million grant funding from NEDA

Four agricultural technologies solutions were among the projects approved by the National Innovation Council Executive Technical Board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to receive grant funding under the 2023 Innovation Grants.

In a Saturday statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said 25 innovation projects would be allotted grant financing amounting to P100 million from the NEDA-led innovation board.

Of the 25 projects, four were agri-tech solutions, which include 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 approved for grant funding was the Alternative Onion Storage System using Controlled Temperature and Automatic Air Flow Mechanism” from the Occidental Mindoro State College.

The PCO said the proposed project by proponents from the Occidental Mindoro State College “provides for the construction of a warehouse equipped with an air blow storage system, which offers an alternative method to prolong the lifespan of onions.”

Meanwhile, the Samar State University’s “Project GeoMap: Geospatial Mapping and Information System for Precise Farming and Smart Agriculture” would also get a P100 million grant from the NEDA-led innovation board.

Lastly, “TABU: A Mobile Application as an E-Commerce Tool for the Agricultural Industry in Eastern Visayas” by proponents from the Eastern Visayas State University was also included in the list of grantees.

The PCO said the 2023 Innovation Grants initiative was “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.”

Citing NEDA, the Palace said 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 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.”

“We congratulate all the successful innovation grantees, and we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with each of you. This is Filipinnovation,” said NEDA. — DVM, GMA Integrated News