Partnership with Taiwan university to provide AI support for PHL farmers

De La Salle University (DLSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Central University (NCU), Taoyuan City of Taiwan for Project AGRI-TECT, exploring the use of AI to detect pathogens infesting the local potato and tomato industries.

DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC and NCU’s Prof. Chih-Yang Lin represented their respective institutions at the signing held on campus last June 27. Other Taiwanese delegates in the event were Prof. Chi-Wen Lung (Asia University, Taiwan), Prof. Isack Farady (Yuan Ze University, Taiwan), and Mr. Andy Desman (NCU).  

Joining the activity were VP of Research and Innovation Prof. Raymond Tan, VP for External Relations and Internationalization Prof. Anthony SF Chiu, Director of the Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research  Prof. Alvin Culaba, Director of Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research Prof. Angelyn Lao, Gokongwei College of Engineering Dean Prof. Kathleen Aviso, and Chair of the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering Prof. Argel Bandala. 

The five-year MOU seeks to facilitate the following objectives: the promotion of student exchange and dual degree programs; the promotion of essays, publications, theses, and research-related information; and the promotion of institutional exchange by inviting faculty and staff for joint research projects.

The two universities have collaborated on the Agricultural Thermoelectric Plant Patch Integration for Pathogenic Disease Resiliency and Computational Intelligence-Embedded Decision Support System through Internet of Living Things (AGRI-TECT), with Dr. Ronnie Concepcion II (DLSU-DMEM) and Prof. Chih-Yang Lin as the principal investigators from each country.

AGRI-TECT is supported by the Manila Economic and Cultural Office – Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Joint Science & Technology Cooperation Program (MECO-TECO JRP), 

Under their ongoing collaboration, the Taiwan team focuses on the implementation of AI to support farmers whereas the Philippine team is focused more on the development of a polymer-based plant wearable sensor with embedded intelligence for detection of pathogens such as Fusarium and Ralstonia that are infesting the potato and tomato industries. 

The teams also visited relevant agencies and farm sites in Benguet Province, including Haight’s Place farm which is one of the project’s intended product deployment sites. They were joined by two representatives from the Atok Municipal Hall, Engr. Bonifacio Lipa-od from the Atok Municipal Planning and Development Office and Ms. Deling Betwag from the Atok Municipal Agriculture Office.