Philippines Launches First Smart Greenhouse in Aklan

The Korea Development Strategy Institute (KDS) announced the inauguration of the first smart greenhouse in Aklan, Philippines, on November 7, 2026, as part of the project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This event celebrated the completion of the greenhouse, which has entered its first harvest phase approximately ten months after construction began in January. Aklan is the first of four project sites to commence operations.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by over 300 participants, including Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., Aklan Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, and other officials from both countries. Attendees unveiled a commemorative plaque, cut a ribbon, and toured the greenhouse, where they harvested initial crops such as bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and melons. They also inspected a centralized irrigation and nutrient supply system along with environmental monitoring equipment.

The Aklan smart greenhouse spans about 1 hectare and includes four cultivation greenhouses, a nursery, a cold storage facility, and solar power installations. Since starting seedling production in July, it has been cultivating lettuce, herbs, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and melons, with an expected annual yield of approximately 52 tons by 2027.

The harvested crops are distributed primarily in the Aklan local market and the tourist area of Boracay. The KDS consortium has been actively securing distribution channels, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Boracay Chamber of Commerce in April and planning promotional activities in Boracay from November 17 to 19.

Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of such projects for the future of Philippine agriculture, aiming to supply high-value crops to both local consumers and tourists. He highlighted the need for the investment to be sustainable and proven through increased productivity and farmer income.

KDS plans to share the experiences from the Aklan greenhouse with other project sites, with the next inauguration scheduled for November 20 in Tigbawan, Iloilo. The project aims to enhance agricultural capabilities and establish a distribution system for high-value crops across the region, supported by KOICA's $8 million grant from November 2023 to December 2027.