A new partnership will help kickstart University of Hawaiʻi student ideas in the field of agriculture technology.
Also known as agtech, agriculture technology is the application of modern technologies and innovations to improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability and profitability in the agricultural sector. Some examples of agtech include: smart irrigation systems, drones and satellite imaging, biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and more.
UH Mānoa’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in the Shidler College of Business recently partnered with Germinate by HIplan to identify unique, tech-driven agrifood and aquaculture solutions. Germinate by HIplan is a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of innovations in these industries.
Germinate by HIplan sponsored a $300 monetary prize that was awarded during PACE’s April 2024 Kalo Grants event. The prize went to master beekeeper Darin Olson and UH Mānoa botany student Briena Du, who presented their idea for Koko Hina, a chocolate product made with a native Hawaiian plant that soothes menstrual discomfort.
“Hawaiʻi needs innovative solutions that increase the profitability of food production in our islands,” Germinate by HIplan Executive Director Jason Ueki said. “If we can support the people and companies that are innovating in the food and agriculture tech industry, we will grow revenue generating companies that pay higher wages, keep local talent and strengthen Hawaiʻi‘s food security.”
Three other UH-affiliated projects were each awarded $100 prizes from Germinate by HIplan for their innovative solutions:
- Kurt Metrose, a mechanical engineering student, established AgiPower, a company that builds custom hardware and software solutions utilizing machine learning to analyze water quality for commercial farmers.
- Ame Arakaki, a mechanical engineering graduate, proposed EcoponicX, an indoor vertical fodder production system using innovative eco-friendly media for production.
- Quong Loc Lam, a graduate student in information technology management and economics, built SmartViet, a mobile app solution that uses AI and Chatbot technology to identify the presence of disease in shrimp.
“We understand students have differing passions and interests. By partnering with groups outside UH that focus on and have expertise in specific industries, we can funnel and encourage members in the UH community to take advantage of the resources that are tailored for them,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “We are pleased to have partnered with Germinate by HIplan to tackle issues in the agriculture sector, and aim to forge similar collaborations with other organizations.”
As part of the collaboration, PACE and Germinate by HIplan co-hosted a Hawaiʻi agrifood innovation webinar, which featured Dave Moloney, head of hardware for Google’s geo-spatial division. During the webinar, Moloney made connections between food, agriculture, aquaculture, technology and potential uses of AI in this sector.
PACE is encouraging the UH community to take action on their ideas by applying for funding through its Kalo Grants program and by applying for additional resources from Germinate by HIplan. PACE welcomes future collaborations with organizations that want to partner with UH to support solutions for Hawaiʻi‘s biggest challenges.