G1 IMPACT GAP CANVAS (CHALLENGE TITLE & GEOGRAPIC FOCUS:___________________________________) by Nally https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19 CHALLENGE MAPPING: The scope and effects of the problem, its causes, and how this big problem has changed over time. SOLUTIONS MAPPING: A map of current solution efforts, their different models, and future opportunities and threats. IMPACT GAPS: Gaps in the landscape of the current solutions, and opportunities for increased positive impact. en-us 2022-04-09 00:18:14 UTC 2025-04-15 03:54:02 UTC hello@padlet.com Agricultural Trade Deficit ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154291949 Philippine agricultural trade has been on a deficit since its accession to the WTO in 1995, trending towards import reliance evidenced by the complete removal of all import quotas and the lowest tariff rates in the ASEAN (Purugganan, 2021) ]]> 2022-04-23 02:12:09 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154291949 The cost of liberalization ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292238 Liberalization has resulted in an unincubated agricultural sector that has drowned in the face of foreign farmers who are often highly subsidized by their states (e.g. the US, Thailand, Vietnam). Filipino farmers couldn't build enough economies of scale and acquire technical efficiency to upscale their production and lower average cost. Hence, they could only price above foreign competitors while often settling for lower-than-breakeven prices or burning their produce in times of extreme surplus.]]> 2022-04-23 02:12:47 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292238 PH bears the cost of foreign massive subsidization ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292793 Massive subsidization in the US, the EU, Thailand, and Vietnam's agricultural sectors has led to overproduction that prompts them to dump excess produce in developing countries for "dirt prices." Undeveloped agricultural sectors in such nations fail to match such low prices and hence,  lowering the world prices for agricultural products.]]> 2022-04-23 02:13:57 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292793 Additional barriers ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292954 The Philippines' archipelagic nature, urban sprawl, and shortage of farm-to-market roads make it much more difficult for farmers to access consumers.]]> 2022-04-23 02:14:17 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154292954 Reliance on anyone but the state ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154293373 Many farmers are relying on loans from cooperatives, private lending institutions, and loan sharks to finance the deficit left by supply chain disruptions due to the recent pandemic, oil price hikes, and other economic shocks. ]]> 2022-04-23 02:15:14 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154293373 2022 subsidy for oil price hikes ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154293847 The Philippine government allotted a P500 million subsidy for the agriculture sector to cushion the oil price hikes. However, the subsidy only covers machine-driven corn farming and motorized fishing. ]]> 2022-04-23 02:16:16 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154293847 #MoveFoodInitiative ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294444 A non-governmental organization (AGREA) established connection between farmers and food demand establishments (e.g. restaurants) to expedite supply connection and reduce transportation costs.]]> 2022-04-23 02:17:34 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294444 Farmers Trashing their Own Crops arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294588 Farmers, especially those from the Cordillera Administrative Region and Nueva Ecija areas unable to sell their crops when transportation disruptions occur (such as is seen now due to rising fuel prices, and as was seen multiple times when lockdowns and typhoons restricted travel between provinces). ]]> 2022-04-23 02:17:54 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294588 Units of Losses arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294938
  • 35% of all farmers experienced heavy logistical disruptions that made selling their produce impossible (ACIAR, 2020). The average losses felt by a family each month amounts to P30,000, which is troubling given that the monthly income of farming families is estimated to only be P35,000.
  • Even after the Philippine Government bought 13 tons of vegetables from farmers in CAR as a way to alleviate the problem, it was cited as being "far from enough."
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:18:33 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154294938     Good Shepherd's Model ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154295296 Good Shepherd Philippines, a company that manufactures famous Baguio ube jams, has allotted their profits from their indigenous-grown products to educational subsidies for indigenous children.]]> 2022-04-23 02:19:16 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154295296 Why the Waste? arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296116 This challenge persists for three main reasons: (a) the crops of the farmers are inherently perishable, with only a week or two of shelf life at most, and so the crops do not survive until the end of logistical disruptions; (b) the farmers do not have access to technology or methods that can lengthen the lifespan of their crops; and (c) the logistical links between farmers and the consumers of their produce are weak, mostly relying on wholesale regional transport.]]> 2022-04-23 02:20:53 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296116 Not enough scope; reliance on demand ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296205 The primary solution set by the Philippine government fails to protect the majority of vulnerable subsectors of farmers (e.g. vegetable farmers who face spoilages and cutthroat competition with foreign producers). 

    Other non-state entities and startups, on the other hand, fall short in reach, as most of them are focused only in small farming clusters. Moreover, most non-state entities rely on consumer demand. Rural Rising Philippines relies on the willingness of consumers to buy near-perishable, "rescued" crops and Good Food Community relies on the willingness of consumers to enter contracts with farmers, when they are aware that they are going to absorb risk.]]>     2022-04-23 02:21:03 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296205     The Borgen Project's Analysis of the Weakness of the Philippine Food Chain arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296771 2022-04-23 02:22:13 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154296771 Solutions lack private participation ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154298838 An opportunity that existing solutions look over is the abundant private incentives that exist to help farmers. For example, companies that have CSR programs could transfer old machinery or assist in the transportation of crops. Moreover, food enterprises are constantly on the lookout for cheaper alternatives to vegetables to decrease their cost of production amidst rising prices.]]> 2022-04-23 02:26:16 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154298838 Solutions are short-term and band-aid ditajoshua https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154299150 Although the Philippine government has handed out subsidies to some farmers to cushion their supply, and non-government organizations has helped reduce the cost of supplying and transporting farm products, they do not provide cushion to the demand side. 

    The average Filipino consumer faces other rising prices amidst the pandemic, oil price hikes, face-to-face shifts, and other economic shocks brought about by natural calamities. Hence, they would naturally reduce their consumption of staple vegetables. 

    ]]>     2022-04-23 02:26:52 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154299150     virgilraquedan https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154299711 2022-04-23 02:27:57 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154299711 Vietnam's VN Foods arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154300350
  • Vietnam is likewise faced with this extreme problem of logistics disrupting the supply chain. This is because as much as 25% of the produce of all farmers rots before it reaches urban areas. Like the Philippines, Vietnam suffers from weak infrastructure resulting into an inefficient supply chain.
  • 7 million tons of vegetables and fruits rot before reaching consumers. 
  • The response of Vietnam's Food Bank is VN Foods; in this government project, produce that is near perishability is purchased instead of being put on transport to rot. The Food Bank, with help of volunteers, then process these vegetables into pickles (atchara), chips, jams, and more. This is then sold to their partner corporations (including names like Mondelez and Bidrico).
  • Vietnam's Food Bank also purchases these and uses them in food drives for the poor and hungry.
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:29:19 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154300350     Challenges arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154301175
  • While the projects of Vietnam Food Bank is one of the most lauded in the world (World Bank, 2019), it mostly draws its resources from volunteers.
  • However, limiting the costs of the preserved food is necessary such that it can be competitively priced when sold to larger companies.
  • Local projects similar to VN Foods is not large enough in scale to meaningfully affect farmers. Good Shepherd's projects do not focus on the issue of food waste, while #MoveFoodInitiative only focuses on transferring crops.
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:31:02 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154301175     VN Foods (Vietnam) Business Model virgilraquedan https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154302616 2022-04-23 02:34:19 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154302616 Adaptations arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154302886
  • The Food Bank of Vietnam has begun a more micro approach, connecting their preserved foods to those who want to purchase them in larger, more urban areas like Ho Chi Minh City and Dongnai Province. 
  • The profits from VN Foods will be directed in expanding the operations of the Food Bank (machinery, workers).
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:34:56 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154302886     Karabella Dairy: Moving Carabao Milk arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154304216 2022-04-23 02:37:29 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154304216 Karabella Dairy Case Study arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154305214 https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/de-la-salle-university/management/teaching-case-karabella-dairy-business-model-to-polc/3619139]]> 2022-04-23 02:39:10 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154305214 Our sources of enlightenment. arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154305768
  • News Articles
  • Action Plans from other countries (Vietnam)
  • Food Chemistry and Agriculture Specialists who likewise share our advocacy of tackling food preservation. We have done extensive consultation with a professor from De La Salle University's Food Chemistry faculty to understand the issues underlying endemic crop spoilage in the country. 
  • In line with contacting specialists such that our solution is thorough, we have also contacted the Municipal Agriculturist of La Trinidad, Benguet.
  • We have likewise contacted various advocacy groups who are focused on the same issue we are: Rural Rising and Good Food Community PH.
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:40:18 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154305768     arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154306008
  •  Similar ventures in the Philippines that also make preserved goods for a cause (e.g. Good Shepherd's Business Model; #MoveFoodInitiative, who moves fresh crops between farmers and urban consumers directly)
  • Student Advocacy Groups and NGOs likely to give their support
  • Other entrepreneurs who executed similar ventures, e.g. Cherrie Atilano from #MoveFoodInitiative
  • CSR means to fund our venture (San Miguel's CSR Organization: https://worldwewant.ph/)
    • ]]>     2022-04-23 02:40:43 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2154306008     Good Food Community arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2193655961 Good Food Community employs "contract farming", which it dubs "Community Shared Agriculture." City-dwellers pledge a "share" to purchase vegetables (in grocery-sized batches) from Good Food Community for an extended period of time. This functions much like a contract wherein the customers are obligated to purchase and pay before the crops even arrive. This ensures the farmers of profits.]]> 2022-05-21 02:34:25 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2193655961 Rural Rising Philippines arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2193657686 Rural Rising Philippines is a non-profit grassroots effort to help distressed Filipino farmers get back on their feet and feed the nation with pride. They aim to do this by sending Rescue trucks to areas where there is an over-production of vegetables and paying the farmers above-farm gate prices. Rural Rising then distributes the rescued produce to its members at below-bagsakan prices. All fruits and vegetables that age 48 hours are donated to deeply COVID-impacted communities in NCR and to various community pantries/kitchens, and parishes.]]> 2022-05-21 02:38:04 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2193657686 virgilraquedan https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2199319315 The researchers used a two-pronged approach to understand the gaps in the focused industry:
    • Extensive Research - Information on the issues of the Philippine farming industry was collated from news articles, written content, and research papers. This provided the researchers with an initial picture of the gap that exists in the industry, in the form of crop oversupply, crop waste, and imbalance of risk between farmers and contractors.
    • Qualitative Interviews/Consultations - To deep dive into the mentioned gap, consultations and interviews grounded the foundation on further understanding the situation. Key persons were interviewed for their first-hand experience and asked for expert advice on the initial solutions.
    Following these, insights were generated from the collected information sourced from both methods. These insights served as the bases of the proposed solution. To write a proposal on the creation of an enterprise that:
    (a) will enter contracts with farmers to purchase crops;
    (b) takes these crops and then sells them to a larger consumer base and enterprises;
    (c) will use crop insurance from the PCIC to decrease the enterprise’s risk from entering contract farming.

    ]]>     2022-05-25 12:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2199319315     chaddantonioo https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2199496147 Based on our research, farmers greatly need our assistance in terms of management and providing better economic opportunities for them. Farmers are the key players in this industry and we must continue to build a thriving and fair relationship with them. Providing farmers with fair economic opportunities will positively impact the agricultural industry progress further.]]> 2022-05-25 14:42:59 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2199496147 Ms. Iris Abrigo arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202247966 Food Science Professional, Chemistry Department Professor, Advocate in the Fight Against Food Spoilage

    iris.abrigo@dlsu.edu.ph

    🌾Consulted with Ms. Abrigo last May 4, 2022 via Zoom regarding the nature of our problem, our gaps of knowledge, and other solutions that may be more farmer-centric. She gave us exhaustive feedback, condensed into the following points:

    Comments and Notes:
    1. On Technology Transfer
      1. It is necessary for us to talk to farmers (e.g. a focus group) - because they themselves must like the solution.
      2. What is the willingness of farmers to process their crops? They usually opt into just selling the things because it is easier that way.
        1. Possible angle is the wives/family of the farmers who can process it if they are looking for an alternative source of income.
      3. Where is the kimchi processed? Should it be processed in CAR? In NCR? If it is to be processed in NCR, there is transport stress that may decrease the value.
    2. Do they have a processing facility?
      1. Establish what such a facility would look like + the associated costs of setting up this facility.
    3. What do they need to learn?
      1. Food Manufacturing
        1. YouTube to know how to make Kimchi
      2. Basic Food Safety Principles - they need training in this. But not in English but in Filipino/local language. It may be necessary to find someone who can translate things to their mother tongue.
      3. Financial Skills
        1. Product costing and financial management.
        2. Marketing.
          1. How involved are you in process (c )?
    4. Similar Organizations (we can read their social media pages to see how they work)
      1. Rural Rising Philippines (there is a private and public Facebook Group) - Processes Ube and does “rescue buying” ; this is the act of buying lower quality vegetables (in large quantities) for a cause.
      2. Good Food Community (Quezon City; FB and Instagram) - eliminates middleman
    5. Most organizations that exist now buy from farmers and then process it themselves. They do not involve the farmers. This may be because of (a) lack of farmer willingness and (b) access to facilities.
    6. Legalities will make it difficult for farmers to execute themselves.
      1. We may need to register with DTI and FDA
        1. The farmers will need to say in writing how they will do their thing 
        2. Lab test for nutrition and safety
    7. Contract Farming is another possibility to look at; when they plant their stuff, they know we will buy it. This acts as insurance.
      1. The Philippine Government offers insurance for crops, and this can hedge against your risk.

    Other Suggestions
    1. Instead of forcing farmers to learn it, we can just do rescue buying and then make kimchi ourselves.
    2. Or maybe the solution is not Kimchi but for us to take contract farming and taking on the insurance risk ourselves, instead of the farmers. We connect them to other people.
    3. Another solution is for us to connect the vegetables to existing processors of vegetable products.
    The farmers may have their own local fermented product that we don’t know about, because it’s not popular enough.
    ]]>     2022-05-27 14:16:56 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202247966     We will consult with the following persons and organizations within the next few weeks: arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202251088 1. Ms Felicitas Ticbaen, Municipal Agriculturist of La Trinidad, Benguet (Already contacted, awaiting response to our questionnaire)

    2. Dr. Arlene Inocencio, Agricultural Economist (Already contacted; we are now working on setting a date to meet next week).

    3. Rural Rising (Contacted, awaiting response)

    4. Good Food Community (Contacted, awaiting response)]]>     2022-05-27 14:19:54 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202251088     IGC Pitch, Google Drive arinavarropastrana https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202269241 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeGIqdxQ3i2kvZ6BywCdp8CsyL3bjhiA/view?usp=sharing]]> 2022-05-27 14:36:08 UTC https://padlet.com/dlsu_soe_mzer/idd9mmq9wimnoh19/wish/2202269241