From Gamer to Grower: How Farmesto is Digitizing Philippine Agriculture One Smart Farm at a Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the most unexpected turns of history, heroes often rise not from palaces or boardrooms, but from the soil—and the code.

Alvin Phoebe Artemix Valdez, a software developer from Batangas and a graduate of the prestigious ARASOF-Nasugbu campus of Batangas State University, once spent four years deep in the world of gaming and construction tech. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world and halted his career momentum, he returned home—only to confront a different kind of battle: the brutal, backbreaking reality of traditional farming.

His father, who had just retired to pursue farming full-time, welcomed him back. But as Alvin witnessed the unpredictable yields, aching labor, and manual inefficiencies that plagued rural agriculture, something stirred in him—not just empathy, but vision.

A Seed Planted in Crisis, Grown by Innovation

Alvin didn’t just want to help. He wanted to revolutionize. He began building what would become Farmesto, starting with a nutrient dosing machine—his very first prototype—that marked the beginning of a digital dream to automate farming.

His breakthrough came when he joined Go Negosyo’s Kapatid Mentor Me Program, where he was mentored by none other than DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. and DOST Assistant Secretary Michael Caballes. With their guidance and encouragement, Alvin secured support from DOST itself—and Farmesto was officially born.

Today, Farmesto is a beacon of “Gawang Pinoy” innovation, a living testament to how local ingenuity can solve national challenges. It develops smart automation systems tailored for greenhouses, and champions digital solutions to uplift Filipino farmers from a cycle of hardship to a future of precision, productivity, and prosperity.

Inside the Farmesto Ecosystem: Agriculture Meets AI

Farmesto’s flagship solution is an ecosystem of intelligent devices, powerful software, and robust data analytics. Here's how they’re digitizing farming:

Greenhouse Automation Devices

AI Nutrient Dosing System

Designed for 200 sqm greenhouses with up to 2000L reservoirs, this system delivers accurate nutrient blends based on real-time readings of:

ORP: 100–1000 mV

EC: 0–5 mS/cm

pH: 5–14

Soil NPK: 1–1999 mg/kg/ppm/μS

Zoning Irrigation System

Intelligent irrigation with up to 3 independently controlled zones. Real-time soil moisture detection ensures efficient water use.

Soil Temp: 0–60°C

Moisture: 0–100% RH

Climate Controller System

Manages greenhouse temperature, humidity, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation), and CO₂ for an ideal growing environment.

Temp: 0–60°C

Humidity: 0–100%

CO₂: 0–5000 ppm

PAR: 0–2500 μmol/m²·s

Light: 0–20000 lux

Cross-Platform AI-Powered Apps

Compatible across phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop:

AI integration for decision-making

Cloud-based for anytime, anywhere access

Smart cultivation with crop-specific intelligence

Offline mode for data collection in remote areas

Data Center (Beta Version)

Farmesto’s Data Center enables organization-wide monitoring:

Realtime data stream: Temperature, humidity, PAR, etc.

System health monitoring: Device status and connectivity

Data logging: For all connected systems, perfect for audits and research

See the Technology in Action:

Deployed at Turbulent Hydro Greenhouse Demo Farm, Tagaytay City, the system has already shown its capacity to boost yields, reduce resource use, and empower farmers to make data-driven decisions.

A Movement Rooted in Soil, Powered by Filipino Grit

Farmesto isn’t just another agritech startup—it’s a movement. It’s proof that Filipino innovation, when paired with passion and purpose, can sow the seeds of transformation. From the humble farms of Batangas to the tech-powered greenhouses of tomorrow, Alvin’s story is an anthem for every young Filipino torn between dreams and duty.

“Para sa makabagong magsasaka, kailangan natin ng makabagong teknolohiya.”

(For the modern farmer, we need modern technology.)

In a world threatened by food insecurity and climate unpredictability, Farmesto is leading the charge—not just to grow crops, but to grow hope.

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