Using AI-powered farm risk monitoring, a Philippine student-developed mobile app seeks to lower agricultural losses.
The goal of AGRICONNECT PH, created by Aldrin “Soj” Gamayon, 22, is to assist farmers in identifying crop stress early on before harm becomes apparent.
Ateneo de Manila University fourth-year Communications Technology Management student Gamayon drew inspiration for the app from an international internship and personal experience. He grew up in an agricultural household and saw firsthand the challenges that farmers, especially his uncles, experienced in dealing with crop pests and erratic weather.
According to the survey, a lot of farmers base their assessments of crop health on visual signals and expertise, which might limit their options and only come into play when there is obvious damage or change. Research indicates that just about 30% of a crop’s worth can usually be recovered once yellowing or other symptoms start to show on the plant. On the other hand, by detecting problems early, AGRICONNECT’s early-detection system seeks to help farmers save up to 90% of their yields.
The software tracks important factors including soil moisture, water levels, and insect activity using soil-embedded smart sensors positioned at different locations throughout a piece of land. An artificial intelligence system uses the gathered data to evaluate agricultural conditions and notify farmers so they can take prompt action.
The application is built around a basic stoplight system to facilitate the interpretation of the output. A green signal denotes favorable conditions, a yellow signal suggests caution, and a red signal means immediate action is required within 12 to 24 hours.
In an interview with BusinessWorld, Gamayon clarified, “We do acknowledge that farmers and agribusiness owners aren’t really the most technical people.” “We’re kind of using a very universal concept so that they don’t really need to understand the tech; they just need to know exactly what to do about the information.”
According to government statistics, agricultural damage in the Philippines was around ₱58 billion (US$1.01 billion) in 2024. Plant diseases, typhoons, and droughts all continue to affect harvests nationwide.
Gamayon anticipates that AGRICONNECT will be a useful instrument for addressing crop hazards. Aiming to reach one million farmers by 2030, the app is scheduled to launch in 2026.
The app has received early notice even though it is still under development. AGRICONNECT won the Red Bull Basement competition, which funds student-led innovation projects. Microsoft, Plug and Play, and Ateneo Blue Nest are among the international organizations supporting the effort.
According to Gamayon, AGRICONNECT is a supplement to traditional farming expertise rather than a replacement for it. According to the paper, “we see ourselves more as a partner and ally of farmers than as a replacement, as some would say.”