TO support national food security efforts, this year’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) in General Santos City will feature the latest innovations to improve agricultural production.
This year’s NSTW will be held on Nov. 25 to 29, 2026, in General Santos City, South Cotabato, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“The event brings together researchers, innovators, industries, government agencies, the academe, and communities to showcase how science, technology, and innovation (STI) contribute to inclusive, sustainable, and resilient national development,” the DOST said in a statement.
“The NSTW serves as a platform for promoting homegrown technologies, strengthening collaboration among STI stakeholders, and bringing science-based solutions closer to Filipinos,” it added.
One of the technologies is the DOST-Central Luzon office’s Sun Harvest, a solar-powered irrigation trailer unit designed to address the water supply needs of agricultural areas.
This system harnesses solar energy to power the irrigation pump, as an alternative to those powered by diesel or gasoline — especially with the price hike due to the recent global oil crisis.
“It produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation, helping to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution,” the DOST Central Luzon office said.
The said irrigation unit mobilizes from farm to farm, catering to a greater number of farmers, particularly in remote locations with limited access to electricity.
The Smart Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), designed by the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), is a monitoring system developed to monitor and control the water quality parameters of a pond.
Enabled by Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, Smart RAS features an automated control platform with real-time monitoring to regulate critical system parameters.
Parameters, including ammonia, pH, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, are particularly monitored, as these serve as critical indicators of pond water quality that directly affect aquatic health and productivity.
Applied to various cultures — tilapia, shrimp, and soft-shelled crabs — the system employs data-informed methods to optimize resource efficiency, increase production output, and maintain stable environmental conditions.
The DOST-Central Visayas is also set to display the Ark of Agriculture (ARKA), a streamlined, technology-driven agricultural supply chain platform, directly connecting farms to markets.
Employing IoT sensors for soil moisture, temperature, and microclimate tracking from DOST’s Project Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (Sarai), ARKA automates and optimizes its production inputs such as irrigation water supply, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Moreover, this initiative connects production data directly to the market through a platform, ensuring reduced post-harvest losses, eliminating intermediary steps and middlemen, and providing farmers better market access and pricing power.
Currently, ARKA also provides training on modern techniques and technologies to help farmers maximize their production and income through science-based tools.
