A ‘greener’ way of producing corn
SOLAR technology that reduces carbon emissions. Capturing and recycling heat while minimizing its loss. Automation that maximizes energy use while streamlining operations. These are some of the cutting-edge equipment used by Cargill Philippines to increase and improve corn production in an environmentally friendly process.
The farm-to-table method falls under the Agri-Sagana initiative, which the Philippine office of the global food and agri-business company launched in November 2022. Focused mainly on the farmers of Cagayan and Isabela, especially women, Agri-Sagana was designed to help them improve their agricultural yields and livelihoods, and contribute to national food security.
Launched in collaboration with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, the project also aims to empower 10 cooperatives and 8,000 corn farmers through a Virtual Coop Training Hub and infrastructure support for environmentally sound practices.
The planned improvement of corn quality and the use of systems that are protective of biodiversity are intended to benefit 500 to 1,000 farmers.
Sonny Catacutan, country president of Cargill Philippines, describes the measures that lead to a “greener” way of producing corn:
– Solar drying. Instead of relying solely on electricity or fuel, specially designed solar panels or drying structures incorporate solar energy. This significantly reduces the demand for nonrenewable energy sources and lowers the carbon footprint associated with corn drying.
– Energy-efficient technologies minimize overall energy consumption during the drying process. These include advanced drying machines equipped with sensors and heat insulations to likewise decrease heat loss.
– Recycling and reuse. During the corn drying process, a considerable amount of heat is generated. Innovative systems capture and recycle this heat.
– Smart automation and control systems optimize energy usage and ensure efficient operations based on real-time data.
– Monitoring systems track energy consumption and system performance, allowing for continuous optimization.
– Miscellaneous carbon-reducing efforts during the corn-drying set-up such as using eco-friendly materials for construction; implementing waste management strategies to reduce, reuse or recycle byproducts; and minimizing any potential harm to surrounding ecosystems.
Regenerative farming
Meanwhile, regenerative farming is implemented to produce healthier crops, bring about climate change mitigation and develop resilience against pests.
In one method, crop rotation has the farmer alter the types of crops grown in a particular area across different seasons or years. This helps keep the soil’s robustness, ward off pests naturally and avoid exhausting the same nutrients year after year.
Meanwhile, minimal tillage counters traditional farming’s rigorous plowing and tilling of the soil, which disrupts its structure, exposes it to erosion and potentially releases carbon into the atmosphere. It reduces the intensity and frequency of mechanical soil disturbance; as a result, soil health is enhanced, carbon sequestration happens and chemical inputs are reduced.
To further empower the farmers with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, Agri-Sagana will be providing them training and resources, translated into the local Ilokano dialect. The official rollout is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, preceding the planting season during a CornVention.
Catacutan described their longterm goal in investing in sustainability and farmer empowerment: “To drive transformative impact to strengthen our food systems and contribute to food security in the Philippines.”