Eastern Visayas State University puts technology into greater heights upon the establishment of Intelligent Green Box (IGB) last November 2020. This was reinforced during a Ribbon-cutting Ceremony on November 5, 2021 for the formal launching of such innovation.
Equipped with sophisticated knowledge and technological proficiency, the institution establishes and uses technology to promote farming system engineering which likewise serves as flagship program of the university.
The launching of the laboratory and Research Center for indoor farming has eventuated as antidote to the worsening climatic condition in the region that is brought about by climate change. Having said that, this helps in the optimization of parameters for the maximum crop production yield. This is in response to the need for agricultural augmentation amid typhoon occurrences in the region where traditional farming is left devastated by the blustery winds and inevitable flooding.
Currently, the laboratory plants lettuce with technological set up being monitored and controlled through a web-based system as regards its development and potential problem that requires intervention. Future set up is configured for high-valued crops like celery.
“As a research institution, this will benefit faculty and students to elicit a lot of researches not just in the College of Engineering but also in other colleges. This will serve as the research venue of the faculty and students when they conduct researches for indoor farming,” said Engr. Roxcella Reas, the Project leader of Intelligent Green Box Farming System EVSU Biomagineering Team. The project is in partnership with Department of Science and Technology, Region 8, Province of Leyte, Villa Conzoilo Compact Farming System, and La Granja de Leyte.
Food security is significantly practical at all times, and aside from it being typhoon-resilient, IGB also amplifies food security as it is not affected by cataclysm in the region. The innovation of IGB is just a step closer towards establishing sustainable society that will benefit people, particularly farmers, as response to the ever- changing and erratic meteorological conditions.
Meanwhile, EVSU extends its gratitude to the local province of Leyte through the leadership of Governor Mic. Petilla and the DOST Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development (iSTART) program for choosing the institution in relation to this significant milestone that will impact the community of farmers in the region. “We are very thankful for the trust and support that we handle this big project, (Thank you to Dr Culaba and Dr. Cuello ) EVSU becomes the center of indoor farming; We are looking forward to more projects that will be generated to help community,” Engr. Reas said.
