NAVAL, BILIRAN, Philippines—As part of the breakout sessions for iPOVCON 2025, the session for Track 2: Innovations in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security featured Subtrack 2A: Technological and Product Innovations in Agriculture and Food.
The session brought together 19 research presenters from higher education institutions from across the country, each showcasing scientific and technological innovations that aim to improve agricultural productivity, ensure food security, and promote sustainable livelihoods. From product development to smart farming systems, the presentations demonstrated the role of research in bridging technology and rural advancement.
Christine Joy I. Ballo of Occidental Mindoro State College presented with “A Study on Consumer Preference Towards Turmeric Flavored Cookies,” followed by Crislin Cruz-Cortez and Mencius Lesidan of Visayas State University, who presented their CEST livelihood initiative, “Adoption of Semi-Direct Copra Dryer and Charcoaling Pit for the Differently-Abled Group in Hindang, Leyte.”
The momentum continued with Adrian Paul N. Abella and Mary Glen L. Caugma of Occidental Mindoro State College, who introduced “Advanced Agri-Systems: An IoT-Based Rotating Rice Grain Dryer for Post-Harvest Risk.” Similarly, Josefine Arellano from the University of Eastern Philippines presented “Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) Baked Polvoron Production: A Technology-Driven Model for Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Growth.”
Representing UP Mindanao, Geraliza D. Wahing, Melissa P. Loquias, Miko Mariz C. Castro, Rojen Dianne Caluban, Faizal John P. Untal, and Rhea Madelle Francisco explored digital solutions for traceability through “Assessing Mobile-Based Traceability Prospects for Yellowfin Tuna in the Philippines.” The discussion of innovation in food technology continued with Jill Ivonie U. Fiel, Jecel A. Sorela, and Genessa Jesy T. Pagote from Bukidnon State University, who examined the “Assessment of Micronutrient Retention, Physicochemical Properties, and Sensory Acceptability of Alugbati (Basella rubra L.) Powder.”
Further emphasizing agricultural sustainability, Sarah Louise S. Atulba and Marie Angeli C. Abendano of Bukidnon State University presented “Bio-Organic Hydroponic Cultivation of Curly Greens Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.),” while Jovelin M. Lapates, also from Bukidnon State University, showcased “Corn Crop Disease Detection Using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to Support Smart Agricultural Farming.”
From Southern Leyte State University, Felanie V. Docena introduced “Development and Evaluation of Sensor-Based Hog Feeder System for Backyard Hog Raiser.” The team of Lady Winderose Oliverio and Bernard Niño Membrebe from Eastern Visayas State University followed with “Development and Sensory Evaluation of a Functional Candy with Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria) and Blue Ternate (Clitoria ternatea).”
Sustainability through smart resource management was highlighted by Donna Anjielou B. Lamutay, Kurt Val T. Dugay, James Marlon L. Lerida, and Dr. Manuel Chad G. Agurob of Bukidnon State University in their presentation, “Dynamic Predictive Environmental Modeling-Driven Smart Irrigation with Wireless Monitoring and Control for Sustainable Water Allocation.” Also from Occidental Mindoro State College, Arvin Jonathan L. Flores presented two related studies: “Evaluating the Efficacy of Edible Coating with Ginger and Seaweed Extract as Black Mold Inhibitor for Prolonging Onion Red Dragon Cultivar Shelf Life” and “Growth and Laying Performance of ‘Dekalb White’ Supplemented with Various Ratios of Pelletized Carbonized Rice Hull Enhanced with Seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) Purée.”
The food technology thread continued with Ma. Theresa M. Salamida and Otilia O. Misagal of Eastern Visayas State University, who shared “Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Mangrove Crab (Scylla serrata) as Influenced by the Levels of Telescope Snail (Telescopium telescopium) Feeds.” Saturnino M. Flores Jr., Kate Thomas B. Tac-an, and Jessabell Q. Cabada of Bukidnon State University followed with “Influence of Pre-Treatment Methods on the Antioxidant Capacity, Nutrient Composition, and Physicochemical Properties of Purple Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) Powder.”
From Visayas State University, Lynette C. Cimafranca, Jhun Rey P. Coretico, and Juan Carlos T. Tomada presented “Innovative Technologies for Underutilized Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) Seeds as Flour Substitute to Selected Glutinous Rice and Wheat-Based Food Products.” Catlea Jane S. Gonzales, Dan Kenneth Leono, and Ruby E. Peralta from Bukidnon State University contributed “Physicochemical and Functional Properties and Protein Levels of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Protein Isolates.”
The session concluded with Medelyn A. Aglipay of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, who presented “Powdered Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as Feed Supplement for Broilers: Its Effect on Growth Parameters and Meat Acceptability,” and Myrelle R. Enriquez and Maria Juliet C. Ceniza of Visayas State University, who shared “Thermotherapy as a Sustainable Pre-Planting Treatment for Managing Pineapple Pink Mealy Bug (Dysmicoccus brevipes).”
Serving as panel evaluators were Dr. Daniel D. Dasig Jr., SSU Alumni Regent, Dr. Edelyn O. Echapare, SSU Associate Professor, and BiPSU Professor Dr. Ruffy Rodrigo.
As part of iPOVCON’s culminating recognition, each track, including Track 2A, will declare its Best Paper Presentation awardee in acknowledgment of exceptional research contributions and impactful delivery.