Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU-backed agri startups undergo evaluation in 2025 Agri-Aqua Innovation Challenge

By Von Reynafe Acevedo, STRATCOM Intern

One homegrown and one MMSU-endorsed agriculture startup that advanced to the top five in their respective categories in the 2025 Agri-Aqua Innovation Challenge underwent field validation assessments on March 24 and 26.

Sensitech’s technology product Fertilitech, competing in the student category, was evaluated on the first day by a judging committee through a field visit at Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative at Brgy. 33-S Rayuray in the City of Batac.

The assessment continued with Anihan Technologies (AniTech), which was endorsed by the MMSU Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI), a startup-category finalist, at Rockwell, Makati, on the second day.

The finalists were evaluated by the judging committee composed of experts from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).
The panel included Dr. Bessie Burgos, Atty. Misael Costes, and Ms. Lucy Lastimosa from DOST-PCAARRD; Prof. Matthew Escobido and Prof. Melissa Balmaceda from AIM; as well as MAP Chairperson Jessie Carpio.

Sensitech developed Fertilitech, a portable smart gadget with a mobile application that enables farmers to assess soil health through a farm management system. The team is led by fourth-year electronics engineering student and Chief Technology Officer James Bryan Martin, along with Chief Executive Officer Julie Ailene Garcia.

Mr. Martin emphasized that the Fertilitech gadget reflects their commitment to addressing farming challenges, particularly for Ilokano farmers struggling with soil fertilization.
Meanwhile, AniTech, a Philippine startup endorsed by MMSU, focuses on empowering agribusinesses with data-driven insights from pre-harvest to post-harvest. It provides sensor-based tracking and monitoring solutions to help optimize operations, benefiting the high-value crop industry.

Both startups were endorsed and supported by the MMSU ATBI Dap-Ayan under the DOST Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) program, led by the Research Directorate and Innovation and Technology Director Dionisio Bucao, who also serves as the RAISE Program Leader.
Ms. Lei Frances Ribac, MMSU ATBI Dap-Ayan project leader, encouraged students to participate in similar competitions, emphasizing the importance of engaging with agricultural communities to identify and develop solutions to the challenges.

MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr. extended his congratulations to the competing teams for making it to the top five in their categories. “Let us continue solving our agricultural and aquaculture problems in the Philippines through the integration of technology and research,” he said.

On April 30, Fertilech and AniTech will compete in the Demo Day at AIM, where they will have the chance to win the prizes and grants. Fertilitech will have the opportunity to secure P400,000 for the first-place winner, while Anitech is poised to secure the P1,000,000 grand prize.

The Agri-Aqua Innovation Challenge is an annual event featuring a 12-month program designed to support agriculture and aquaculture startups led by students and innovators. It aims to help transform technological ideas into solutions that address challenges in these industries.