A hydroponic farm in Ibaan, Batangas was recently launched following the granting of an application for registration of the Board of Investments which seeks the use of innovative technology in the country's agriculture industry.

Denso Philippines Corporation, headed by Yuji Torii, president of Denso Philippines Corporation, aims for food-secured and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers, contributing to environmental protection and balanced growth.

The agency earlier granted the application for registration to Denso Philippines Corporation as the new producer of high-value crops, particularly microgreens, kale, arugula, herbs and melons.

The firm's SMART Agriculture Project was greenlighted under "Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry" of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan, with an estimated investment cost of P60 million or $1.09 million.

Coupled with its climate -resilient greenhouse building, the project will also employ integrated pest/disease management and is vital in attaining food security in the country's urban areas.

Fully endorsed by the Department of Agriculture, the farm is said to help attain the Department's goal of improving the country's agriculture industry, contributing to the attainment of food security in urban areas across the country as well as securing a sufficient supply of fruits and vegetables.

"This is just the start. We are very open to this collaboration. With the Japanese technology, I am sure that the Philippines will be benefiting from this. We are hoping that we can sustain this collaboration," said Gerald Glenn Panganiban, director of the High-Value Crops Development Program and OIC-director of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

The project's target market are hotels, restaurants, online market or e-commerce, culinary schools, and other food-related businesses in Central Business District areas in the country.

The farm involves the commercial production of vegetables using hydroponic growing technology with plans to use the Internet of things for nutrient dosing and monitoring through sensors.

Hydroponics is a soil-less farming system that includes the process of growing plants with the use of mineral nutrient solution through an inert medium such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, expanded clay or coconut husk.