By Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter

A Mindanao-based agricultural technology startup is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to help farmers assess soil conditions and curb unnecessary fertilizer use as the Philippines prepares for a potentially severe El Niño.

Mindanao, often described as the country's food basket, accounts for a substantial share of national agricultural output, making it a critical region for climate-resilient farming innovations.

GreenVisionsPh, led by Chief Executive Officer and founder Lorilyn P. Daquioag, has developed an AI-driven farm management module that delivers soil and disease diagnostics to guide fertilizer application and other agricultural practices.

"Carelessly throwing fertilizers is not effective during El Niño," Ms. Daquioag told BusinessWorld in Filipino via Zoom.

The technology determines whether fertilizer already applied to soil has been absorbed by crops or remains available for future use, enabling farmers to postpone additional applications and cut costs. Fertilizer ranks among the largest input expenses for Filipino farmers, and global supply disruptions in recent years have driven prices to levels that further strain smallholder margins.

In one case documented during an El Niño period, a farmer had been applying fertilizer every 10 days. Testing revealed that fertilizer levels in the topsoil were seven times higher than needed, Ms. Daquioag said. GreenVisionsPh advised the farmer to delay further applications, noting that nutrients already present in the soil could sustain crops for up to two months. The farmer consequently saved money by avoiding unnecessary fertilizer purchases.

The startup's tool arrives as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration anticipates a strong El Niño season beginning in the third quarter, with conditions potentially intensifying to "very strong" levels by October and persisting through January of next year. The Department of Agriculture has cautioned that the weather phenomenon could reduce agricultural output by approximately 20% to 30%.

GreenVisionsPh's AI-driven farm management module functions as a comprehensive diagnostic instrument, delivering data on both soil conditions and crop diseases.

Ms. Daquioag likened the system to a mobile hospital for farms, with soil tests serving as laboratory examinations and the resulting recommendations acting as prescriptions. "We create a metaphor that farms are similar to people when they are sick," she said.

Data generated from farm assessments are automatically uploaded to the Agricultural Intelligence and Monitoring System, known as AIMS, which enables farmers to monitor soil performance and manage other operational aspects.

The platform also allows farmers to track expenses, operations, accounting, and sales—addressing a record-keeping gap among agricultural operators. Ms. Daquioag noted that some farmers managing more than five hectares do not consistently maintain expense records, in some cases relying on notes written on calendars or keeping no records at all.

In addition, GreenVisionsPh offers microbial treatments including Enhanced Compost Activator Solution (eCAS) and Trichoderma (Trico+), which the company says can rebalance soil pH, reduce odors, and restore nutrient absorption.

According to the company, farmers using these products have reduced farming expenses by as much as 50%, with savings reaching P4.1 million annually on a 20-hectare farm. It also reported that 52% of surveyed farmers experienced larger and healthier yields, while 25% reported faster crop growth.

GreenVisionsPh, founded in 2021, has assessed approximately 300 farms across Mindanao and targets reaching at least 1,000 farms in the region by year-end.

For farmers confronting elevated risks from prolonged dry spells, the company views data-driven farm management as a means to reduce input waste while enabling decisions grounded in actual soil conditions rather than conventional practices.