By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
Apart from lost jobs and opportunities created by the pandemic, one of the issues that are critical and remain unheeded is the food security of the country.
In the recent news in the agribusiness sector, we see how the government responds to the looming food security by importing more food such as rice, pork, chicken and even fish, instead of coming up with long-term solutions that would help our farmers and local entrepreneurs.
Technology and digital transformation and adaption have been playing a key role not just in keeping the business afloat but also in helping to thrive. Regardless of one’s business, technology will be here to stay and bolster many business across the globe.
Mindful of the issues on agribusiness and the importance of technology, Hack4Food was conceived through the auspices of Rotary Club of Makati (RCM), in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bay, Rotaract Club of Makati, and the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP).
The Hack4Food: Agriculture and Food Innovation Challenge 2022 aims to foster creativity and collaboration in solving the challenges facing agriculture and food systems. The agriculture and food value chain — from production to distribution, and up to consumption– can substantially gain from clever imagination and novel thinking.
The Philippines is home to an estimated 111 million people spread across its 7,641 islands. Ensuring food sustainability and inclusivity for its growing population is serious business. Achieving the desired state of agriculture will require a lot of work from both the public and private sectors. The youth of our country have a substantial stake in propelling the developmental progress of agriculture as they will inherit all its gifts and ills.
This one-week virtual hackathon challenges the youth to step-up and make a positive impact in agriculture and food challenges. It is open to all stakeholders passionate about the fate of the planet and its inhabitants and committed to make a difference.
Hack4Food is brought to you by the Rotary Club of Makati (RCM), in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bay, Rotaract Club of Makati, and the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP).
Challenges
- Improving the lives of farmers/fisherfolks through enhanced economies of scale (i.e., reduced production costs, increased yields, decreased cost per unit of output);
- Empowering farmers through collective action and by aggregating their outputs into viable clusters that improve operations and profits;
- Enhancing farmer profits through direct matching of producer and buyer; and reducing the participation of middlemen to the lowest possible level without adversely affecting the supply chain;
- Supporting and encouraging farmers to engage in crop diversification, which has been proven to help fertilize the soil;
- Implementing digital technologies and data analytics which enhance overall farm productivity and efficiency;
- Creating object detection technologies which can aid in production and/or distribution decisions;
- Designing value chains that take into account climate change and other sources of risks;
- Developing forecasting models and tools that guide decision-making in value chains;
Prizes
| 1st place | ₱50,000 |
| 2nd place | ₱30,000 |
| 3rd place | ₱20,000 |
Eligibility
- Groups of 2-5 or individuals
- Filipino citizens within the Philippines
- No age limit
Registration
Please visit hack4food.co for more details. Deadline is on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
Contact
For any questions and concerns, please e-mail at info@hack4food.co.