Key stakeholders and thought leaders recently gathered to address the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector through technology during the roundtable discussion organized by Digital Pilipinas and AgriDOM Solutions Corp. Photo shows from left to right (back): Bayani JM Solana, General Services Officer – SF Group Companies; Arnold G. Dela Cruz, Sustansiya.ph; Marie Joy Balmaceda Dela Cruz, Vice President – Sustansiya.ph; Tark Bertelman, Local Representative – Rikj Zwaan; Ralph Becker, CEO/Founder – Urban Greens; Dominador Subang, Founder and CEO – AgriDOM; Buddy Tancontian, Business Development Manager – AgriDOM; Nehemiah Caballong, IT Officer II Information System Division, DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute; Luis Alejandre Tamani, Chief Information Officer, DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute; Kristofer Molina, Kubota Philippines; and left to right (front): Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas Convenor; Chams Mancao, Advanced AI Partnership Engagement Manager; Thel Zapata, Advanced AI Senior Business Development Manager; Mary Joy Calpito, Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Research, DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute; May Gudilos, Product Officer – Pioneer Insurance; Jen Subang, Co-Founder and COO – AgriDOM; Niño Duque, Principal Business Partner in Philippines for MDEC.
The exponential growth of the global agritech market, expected to surpass US$ 46,372.5 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 17.3%, underscores the pivotal role that digitalization in sectors like agriculture plays in economic development. In a recent roundtable event themed, “Adopting technology and innovation to boost agriculture,” Digital Pilipinas brought together thought leaders and key stakeholders to discuss how the latest technological advancements and innovative solutions can enhance agricultural practices and contribute to the country’s advancement.
Digital Pilipinas is the largest private sector-led movement for creating an innovation and technology ecosystem and is the pioneering ecosystem-builder in ASEAN that is actively engaged and synergized in a global digital economy. Organized by Digital Pilipinas in partnership with AgriDOM Solutions Corp. (AgriDOM), a pioneering technology-based solution provider that is focused on helping the agriculture sector attain higher returns on investment, the roundtable discussion highlighted the need to modernize farming practices by fostering digital connectivity within the agricultural sector.
AgriDOM is a subsidiary of the SF Group of Companies based in Davao City that has firmly established itself as the country’s full-spectrum provider of modern agriculture products and technology. Operating across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, AgriDOM pushes for the modernization of the agriculture sector in order to spur local sufficiency and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the ASEAN regional market.
AgriDOM’s technological innovations that can be applied to agriculture include Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) fertilizer and pesticide spreading and spraying; after sales support and services; mapping, surveying, and monitoring; UAV pilot training and license processing; unit sales and registration. The company’s intelligent and advanced drone technology delivers efficient and precise mapping and spray operations that ensure cost effectivity.
Buddy Tancontian, AgriDOM External Relations Manager, emphasized the importance of precision agriculture and collaboration among various stakeholders to promote sustainable farming practices and ensure food security. “Optimizing farm inputs and maximizing yields are fundamental for sustainable agriculture, economic prosperity, and food security. Farmers must adopt this technology of precision agriculture. With us working together, government agencies, researchers, and agriculture organizations, we must continue to support and promote agricultural innovations and initiatives that encourage these resource efficient and farming practices.”
Nehemiah Caballong, Information Technology Officer II of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute, highlighted the importance of digitalization as a core element of agriculture. “This is how we look at integrating digital technology into the agriculture culture: It is not just providing support or as a way for improving the system, but actually, we want digitalization to be a pillar of agriculture, that’s how we see digital transformation.”
Amor Maclang, Convenor of Digital Pilipinas and Co-founder of GeiserMaclang, shared how banks and fintech can empower farmers to be entrepreneurs. “Banks and fintechs who support farmers can help farmers see themselves as entrepreneurs. Technology can help them better their productivity and data gathering.”
This agritech-focused roundtable discussion was one of the lead up events to the Digital Pilipinas Festival 2 last November 20-24, 2023 at SM Aura Convention Center and in various co-located venues and innovation hubs across the country. The festival happened immediately after the Singapore Fintech Festival and coincided with the Philippine Startup Week, the Digital Pilipinas Festival 2 has been the biggest gathering of industry leaders and country delegations.
To learn more about the role of technology and innovation in boosting agriculture, join the Digital Pilipinas Festival in November. To register, please visit https://digitalpilipinas.ph.
