I was in high school when I first came in University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna. I was one of the Science Club members of our school, who was very fortunate to be included in a tour and presentation of different kinds of rice seeds that said to be the answer for the certain poverty we had then... so that we won't be importing rice from other country... so that Filipinos won't suffer... I was so amazed to see such triple the size of our NFA rice with multiple color by then...I used to tell my son how much I really want him to see UPLB International Rice Research Institute as he takes pictures of the rice fields and farms to make him eager to learn more of the seeds he had been collecting all these times...
I and my kid got invited witness a one of kind competition... The East-West Innovation Olympics 2017 was where our next generation's agricultural leaders were challenged to come up with such great innovative technology solutions for small vegetables farmers. This year's theme, "New Technologies to Improve the Productivity of Vegetable Farmers" made these future leaders sought for real life solutions with the use of technology. Technology today is the most demanding tool for everyone and East-West Seed, as one of the largest vegetables seed companies in the world, made used technology for the good of our smallholder farmers. How warm it is to know that there are still like East-West Seed who would think of the smallholder farmers all these 35 years since 1982. The core values of "Learning and Innovation" made this competition a success in getting more people to be aware and get involved in making their own actions of helping and serving smallholder farmers and the people who depend on our farmers...
This five-day event came up with the best 10 finalists as listed below:
- Agrissive: Potent Agrochemical formulation organic Resources and Wastes (University of the Philippines Los Banos) This two in one agrochemical solution is both pesticide and fertilizer which can be a convenient tool for assuring the farm producers and the consumers the quality and safe consumption of the produce. A promising source income for the community.
- Agriviz (Asian Institute of Management) This aims to improve the productivity and profitability of Filipino vegetable farmers through agricultural e -commerce platform.
- Aton Umahan (Ateneo de Manila University) "Aton Umahan" means "Our Farms" in Waray-Waray. Such a business model where trash-based organic farming initiative with direct farm to restaurant channel can provide farmers market access, income stability and diversity in thier crops.
- i-Agri Ventures (University of the Philippines Los Banos) KAMATIS: "Kagamitang Makabago, Teknolohiyang at Impormasyong Sigurado" is what tomato farming needs with its goal to provide an affordable, effective and sustainable means of increasing tomato productivity through monitoring the soil moisture content which addressed other solutions to the tomato farming
- Laguna Sangre ( University of the Philippines Los Banos) Graco Gulayman: "Sa Gulay Tayo Magpayaman" is about the improvement of utilization of animal wastes as fertilizers in the farming systems technologies.
- Light AgriTech (University of the Philippines Los Banos) With the objective of saving water and improving crop production, "Smart Solar-Powered Irrigation System" is an answer for automatic irrigation of a vegetable farm.
- Project Minerva (University of the Philippines Los Banos) With the use artificial intelligence, micro controllers and sensors for automatic innovation farmers will have that aquaponic system with no worries.
- Team Oppa (University of the Philippines Los Banos) by utilizing different sensors and data, this simple technology will inform the farmers all the details of his vegetable farm though SMS.
- Tinderow (University of the Philippines Los Banos) This is an online platform which could be a convenient and efficient transaction process between the buyers and the farmers minus the middlemen.
- Vegetrack (University of the Philippines Los Banos) Such vegetable tracking system that will give you everything you need to know about the vegetables from seed to table for the consumers.
As I write my first individual blog, I was being wowed by these future leaders not only of our country but of our world. All of these farming projects and solutions deserved all first prize. They are all promising and really worth something for all farmers, as well as, the consumers. But they have to chose the best among the best.
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| After the Innovation Olympic days, the moment the everyone was waiting had its final moment. |
September 29, 2017, The last day of the East- West Seed Innovation Olympics 2017 at REDREC AUDITORIUM, UPLB, was the most awaited event of the week. A simple Welcome Remarks by Dr. Prof. Normito R. Zapanta, Jr. CEM - UPLB inspired everyone especially the finalists. It was followed by the Introduction of the Judges by Francine Sayoc, the Group Communication Manager, East-West Seed. An Elevator Pitch of 5 min per team, and Judges Deliberation and Decision were led by the EWS Global teams ad Manager. Simon Jan de Hoop announced the top 5 teams to move to final presentation and they were (1) Light Agritech, (2) Agrissive, (3) i-Agri venture, (4) Team Oppa, and (5) Agriviz. A hefty lunch were served to ease up the tension before Dr. Mark Relova, the Group Head for Learning East West Seed gave the order of Presentation and Mechanics. Led by the EWS IO Teams each finalist were given 20 mins. to have their final presentation and to answer the rendered questions to them. This became a very tough deliberation for the EWS Global Managers because each finalist have given their very best. The Top 3 had their genius ideas rewarded with 150,000 pesos each and they were Agriviz, iAgriventure, and Team Oppa. Their real life solutions for better farming of the smallholder farmers met the best idea of what the year's theme asked them to provide and produce.
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| Our judges came from different races but with one common goal.. and they were |
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| Some "Unfreezer" to relieve the tension in the auditorium. |
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| One of the impressive presentation from Agrissive |
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| The Awarding Moment... |
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| The moment where they were given time to tell something about thier ideas... |
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| The Agriviz... |
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| Team Oppa receiving that 150, 000 pesos award |
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| When EVERYONE is a WINNER. All out smile! |
Kudos future leaders and to their families, friends and teacher!
As I said before, I am very fortunate to be part of this event. You made me dream as a mom that someday I would be seeing my own kid competing in one of your Innovation Olympics that will aim to help and serve our farmers through the core value of learning and innovating. As he shared his experience to the day's event, thank me. he said wants to be like the finalists who had be thinking out of box of the impossible things yet made come true as real life solutions. Thank you for helping me make my kid decide what he really wanted to be someday with an essential purpose to mankind.
--Rissa
