NEDA secures funding for agri-tech solution projects in promotion of ‘Filipinnovation’

The National Economic and Development Authority has secured a funding allotment for the government's agri-technological solution initiatives amounting to P100 million, Malacañang said Saturday.

In a statement on Saturday, Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil welcomed the NEDA's funding support saying it would help increase food productivity in the country.

The National Innovation Council Executive Technical Board over the weekend announced the approval of its allocation of P100 million for 25 innovation projects under the agency's 2023 Innovation Grants.

Garafil said 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.

Included among the agri-tech solution projects that will get funding assistance is the Alternative Onion Storage System using the Controlled Temperature and Automatic Air Flow Mechanism, proposed by the Occidental Mindoro State College.

This project 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 proposals included in the list were the Samar State University's Project GeoMap: Geospatial Mapping and Information System for Precise Farming and Smart Agriculture; and the Eastern Visayas State University's TABU: A Mobile Application as an E-Commerce Tool for the Agricultural Industry in Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, The Philippine Rice Research Institute's proposed Artificial Intelligence for impact-based forecasting and early warning system for inclusive finance and strengthening of local economic development in Rice-Based Farming Communities was also among the approved agriculture-centered proposals.

Also approved were the Pre-Commercialization of Non-Hold-On Type Decorticating Machine for Abaca developed by the Department of Science and Technology's Forest Products Research and Development Institute; Jose Rizal State Memorial University's Prototyping and Pilot Testing of Seaweed Harvester; Cebu Normal University's From Farm to Market: and Co-creating the Cinnamon Industry in Cebu, Philippines.

The funding will also be allotted to Batangas Animal Movement Reporting Approach to Control Diseases by Batangas' provincial government; the University of the Philippines Los Baños' Enhancement and Deployment of Smarter Pest Identification Technology Mobile Application and Romblon State University's Establishment of a Bamboo Processing School Factory for Manufacturing Engineered-Bamboo and Steel Student Desks and Chairs.

Apart from agri-tech solutions, Garafil said the other approved projects also cover augmented reality/ virtual reality education platforms, smart data-driven policies, disaster preparedness, and cultural heritage preservation.
NEDA said this year's proponents came from government agencies and offices, including State Universities and Colleges and Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations.

The approved projects would showcase the creativity of Filipino innovation actors, as well as the vibrant and dynamic landscape of innovation across all regions, it added.

NEDA reiterated its push for a "Filipinnovation."