Grade school and high school student-inventors from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba showcased their agri-inventions at the "Sowing Seeds: Cultivating Youth's Future in Agriculture" session on agri-robotics.
The event was organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) through its Partnerships Unit (PU) as part of the Center's recent Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation program.
In his opening message, SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio explained that agriculture is a complex system that includes not only production but also harvesting, postharvest processing, and, ultimately, consumption.
Gregorio also underscored the transformative role of innovation and technology in modern agriculture.
"Agriculture is the culmination of human labor, nature, and technology," he remarked.
The session featured agri-robotics demonstrations by Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba student inventors, who won at the International Exhibition for Young Inventors 2024, held at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei.
Through the session, the young inventors were given a platform to inspire their fellow youth and spark their interest in agriculture, particularly in technological innovation.
The team of Czyan Knox Arcibal, Isabelle Visico, and Francine Jaic Conde, demonstrated the use of their invention, "Circular Irrigation with Moisture Detection System (CIMDS)."
CIMDS is designed to automate the irrigation process through soil moisture level detection, reducing the need for manual labor, while ensuring that crops are receiving the precise amount of water needed.
The inventors of "TempHydroponics"—Gian Carlo de Guzman, Louise Andrei Garcia, and John Caleb Robles—said the technology monitors hydroponic plants' temperature and pH levels through an electrical conductivity sensor.
The sensor detects nutrient deficiencies to maintain a balanced nutrient solution.
For their part, Daniel Eleazar Camangon and Anne Marie Jael, who invented the "Leak and Overflow Detection Arduino System [LODS]," said it was designed to detect leaks and overflows, sending real-time alerts that allow immediate troubleshooting and prevent further damage.
Drawing from his experiences as a young scientist, Gregorio shared motivational messages and insights into improving the students' agri-inventions.
Around 100 grade-school and high-school students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, University of the Philippines Rural High School, Colegio De Los Baños, and Christian School International participated in the session.
As part of the learning activity, the students were given a tour of the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation AgriMuseum and SEARCA Sky Garden.
Sowing Seeds aims to foster interest in agriculture among young Southeast Asians. The initiative emphasizes the potential of agriculture as a promising career and encourages young people to explore higher education options in this field. This session on agri-innovation is anchored in the International Youth Day 2024 theme, "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development."