The Philippines' First Smart Cacao Nursery Greenhouse Now in Operation

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) has announced that the country's first smart cacao scion nursery and greenhouse has been put into operation at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM). Located in Kabacan, Cotabato Province, the project is funded by DOST-PCAARRD and implemented by the University of Southern Mindanao for the propagation, management, and supply of quality cacao scion materials and seedlings.

The total project budget is approximately 24.1766 million Philippine pesos. According to the DOST-PCAARRD project list, the project was launched in January 2023, with construction contents including a smart cacao scion nursery, a smart greenhouse, identification of cacao germplasm materials, and development of technologies for large-scale propagation of quality seedlings. The project completed its terminal review on July 13-14, 2026, which covered verification of facility construction outcomes, smart system operation, and project implementation.

The smart scion nursery is equipped with an off-grid photovoltaic power supply system and battery storage, an automatic irrigation network, a smart water and fertilizer scheduling system, a weather station, and field IoT sensors, and has deployed 4 mobile applications for soil moisture and irrigation scheduling, climate monitoring, remote nursery management, and pest and disease data recording, respectively. The nursery currently maintains 623 molecularly verified cacao varieties and elite clones certified by the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry and recommended by the National Seed Industry Council, serving as a source for scion and quality planting material propagation.

The supporting smart greenhouse is used for cacao seedling propagation and is equipped with a solar irrigation system, backup water storage facilities, an automated water and fertilizer integration system, an adjustable shading system, and an independent weather station. The greenhouse control system enables remote monitoring, equipment control, and automated operation via mobile devices, covering irrigation, fertilization, light regulation, and environmental monitoring.

The project had previously completed the inauguration of the smart scion nursery and greenhouse facilities on September 12, 2024, at which time it entered the facility construction and technical verification phase. After completing the terminal review in July 2026, the project shifted to the continuous operation phase, with the University of Southern Mindanao responsible for facility operation and maintenance and continuing to undertake the production of quality cacao seedlings. USM will also continue to manage the facility as a certified nursery operator.

The project's subsequent operational scope includes continuously supplying quality planting materials to nurseries and cacao growers, tracking project technology application and seedling flows, and conducting training for nursery operators, students, and related practitioners. The University of Southern Mindanao also plans to continue seeking external funding for upgrades to the smart seedling facility.