NVSU secures back-to-back victory at the Young Farmers Challenge 2025

Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) once again demonstrated its leadership in agricultural innovation as student-agripreneurs’ LikeKo PH was proclaimed champion in the Intercollegiate Category of the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program 2025 Regional Awarding Ceremony held on November 21, 2025 at the Robinson's Place, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Aeysha Belle Louisse C. Domingo, Jen V. Mingaracal, and Marie Mar B. Olaya, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering students received the top prize of PHP 250,000.00 with their edible straw project.

The university recorded a back-to-back win in this category, with the AeroSun Harvests project by Mark Nover Serada, Erika May Saludo, and Jana Marie Barias leading the same category in 2024.

The team was guided by Dr. Mary Hazel Joy C. Ugot, Sabatan Technical & Development Adviser, as their technical coach, and Prof. Josue A. Chua, SINAG Co-Project Leader, as their business coach.

Meanwhile, the Startup Category, which recognizes both current students and alumni, also highlighted NVSU’s strong presence in agripreneurship.

Among the awardees were Ernest Jay C. Lizada, a Bachelor of Animal Science student, for his EJL Silage Products with a funding award of PHP 230,000.00; Erickson S. Guban, a Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering student, for ESG Tomato Twist Enterprises, also awarded PHP 230,000.00; Josephine L. Bernardino, a BS in Agricultural Engineering alumna, for her project Harvest Beyond Season: Innovative Pineapple Farming which received PHP 80,000.00; and Jiver Dhaiynz Aubrelle B. Aquino, a BS in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering alumnus, for Malachi Manufacturing, likewise granted PHP 80,000.00.

Special recognition is given to the awardees who are incubatees of NVSU Sabatan, whose mentoring and guidance helped refine their technologies and business proposals, enhancing their readiness for success in the YFC program.

This achievement reflects not only the creativity and entrepreneurial drive of NVSU students but also the university’s commitment to Developmental Goal 3: Technology Commercialization, ensuring that research outputs and innovative ideas are transformed into viable, market-ready products.