Team M1R4G3 exhibits the HEAL-PH app, which was awarded first place during the FLExPHD Grand Finals.
The HEAL-PH mobile application bagged the top prize at the Food is Life Exemplified: Planetary Health Diet (FLExPHD) app development competition. Team M1R4G3 from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) created HEAL-PH to help students develop healthy eating habits patterned after the planetary health diet (PHD).
FLExPHD aims to support transforming the food system and eating decisions toward PHD, a science-based, values-driven, plant-based diet. The competition was organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
NAST PHL President Dr. Jaime Montoya explained that PHD offers solutions to achieve the goals of a healthy and nutritious diet, a sustainable production for a sustainable environment, and a just system for farmers and producers. "Food security has always been one of the important pillars and core directions," said Dr. Montoya. "The use of emerging technologies is one way to bridge the gap in these areas," he continued.
As the FLExPHD first placer, Team M1R4G3 will receive PHP 500,000 to further develop the HEAL-PH into a downloadable app to be launched in October 2023. The HEAL-PH app can recognize food from images and score health points to help eaters evaluate their choices.
Representing the six members of Team M1R4G3, Val Randolf Madrid said, "It was really fun. As a tech guy, I was just very happy that we were able to run a lightweight AI model on a cellphone offline."
The FLExPHD board of judges, headed by Ms. Joie Cruz (2nd to the left, back row), congratulates Team MAPA (front row) for winning second place during the FLExPHD Grand Finals.
Team MAPA from the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus (PSHS- ESV) was awarded second place for developing VICTU app, which aimed at streamlining cafeteria management for healthy food options. Team MAPA will receive PHP 200,000 as prize money.
Tied for third place were AskEdi! and Sustainsia apps, with a prize of PHP 50,000 each. AskEdi! by Team Ediscape from Western Visayas offers locally sourced, planet-friendly personalized meal plans delivered to the consumers' doorstep. Meanwhile, the Sustainsia app by Team PlanEATarians from Luzon gamifies the journey toward PHD into an engaging and enjoyable experience.
More than 100 teams nationwide entered the FLExPHD competition launched in November 2022. Teams participated in a series of webinars and design thinking classes. After assessing their low-fidelity app prototypes, the top 40 teams were trimmed down to 12. The top 12 teams presented their high-fidelity prototypes in an app demo exhibit and pitching competition at the FLExPHD Grand Finals held at SEARCA on 28 June 2023.
Team PlanEATarians and Team Ediscape (front row) share third place during the FLExPHD Grand Finals.
SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio commended the impressive demonstration of various FLExPHD apps that tell the story of healthful food choices. "Every food on our plate has gone through a journey that touches farmer's lives, our land, water, and other natural resources, as well as our local culture. Indeed, our individual choices have a collective consequence." He cited FLExPHD as celebrating innovation in making PHD-compatible food choices through mobile applications.
Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, executive director of DOST-PCAARRD, urged the FLExPHD finalists to take their apps to the public to reach a wider audience. "More can be achieved if we are working together to realize our vision—a food system that considers the well-being of the people and planet, adapts to the changing environment, and accommodates the diversity of food culture."