With the world facing increasing concerns over food security, the University of the Philippines (UP) is pioneering AI-based research to tackle the Philippines’ most pressing food challenges. During the AI Horizons PH 2024 conference on October 24-25 at UP-BGC, experts showcased projects that use artificial intelligence to improve rice production, marine life monitoring, pig farming, and calamansi crop health. These innovations have the potential to reshape the country’s agricultural landscape and strengthen the economy.
1. Smarter Rice Supply Management with AI
One key project, “AI-Powered Decision Support for Rice Supply and Demand Policies,” uses machine learning to help the government better manage rice supplies, especially during crises. This AI tool analyzes regional rice supply and demand, creating a clear picture of which areas have enough rice, which are balanced, and which are struggling. The AI then provides customized recommendations for each region to improve food security.
“This system gives policymakers the data they need to make informed decisions quickly, especially during natural disasters,” explained Ronald Allan D.C. Flores. The project lead, Dr. Eugene Rex Jalao, added, “Our goal is to empower the government to make smart, data-driven choices to improve food security.”
2. Revolutionizing Marine Conservation with Fish-I
UP is also using AI to protect marine life with the “Fish-I Semi-Automated Fish Visual Census System.” Traditionally, fish population counts require a lot of time, training, and expertise. Fish-I changes this by automating the counting process, making it faster and more accurate. Tested in over 50 sites in the Philippines and abroad, Fish-I helps track fish populations in Marine Protected Areas, supporting the sustainable management of these ecosystems.
“Fish-I helps us gather reliable data quickly, ensuring we can protect marine biodiversity more effectively,” said project leader Prof. Laura David, PhD.
3. Healthier Pig Farming with AI Disease Detection
Pig farming, a major industry in the Philippines, is also benefiting from AI. The project, “Pig Behavior Detection Using Vision Transformer Pose Estimation and Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks,” uses AI to monitor pigs for early signs of diseases like African Swine Fever. By detecting illnesses early, farmers can act quickly, potentially preventing large outbreaks and ensuring healthier livestock.
“This technology allows us to spot health issues in pigs sooner, saving farms from major losses and boosting productivity,” said project co-leader Dr. Pros Naval.
4. Early Detection of Calamansi Diseases
UP’s “Philippine Lime (Calamansi) Disease Detection and Classification” project uses AI to detect diseases in calamansi crops. With an impressive accuracy of 87.2%, the AI model can identify nine different calamansi diseases, helping farmers catch problems early and reduce crop losses.
“Our AI tool helps farmers manage their crops better, improving both yield and quality,” said Lead Researcher Ms. Madecheen Pangaliman. This technology is expected to have a big impact on calamansi farming practices across the Philippines.
