Philippines Climate Tech Start-Up Uses IoT to Reduce Food Loss and Strengthen Supply Chains

A woman-led agri-tech company in the Philippines is deploying climate technology to address persistent food losses across agricultural supply chains. Founded by Gillian Santos, Anihan Technologies, known as AniTech, focuses on reducing post-harvest losses through sensor-based monitoring and data-driven decision tools.

The idea emerged from Santos’s experience as a consultant for the National Food Authority in 2021. She observed that agricultural provinces such as Benguet often produced surplus crops, while urban areas including Metro Manila experienced shortages. Weak storage systems, fragmented transport logistics and limited monitoring contributed to significant food losses, reducing farmer incomes and constraining food availability.

The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed vulnerabilities in distribution networks, reinforcing the need for systemic improvements.

 

IoT Monitoring Across the Agricultural Value Chain

 

AniTech equips agribusinesses with affordable Internet of Things sensors linked to a web-based monitoring platform. The system generates real-time data and analytical reports that support decisions related to irrigation, fertilization, cold storage management and transport conditions.

By identifying early signs of spoilage and tracking environmental conditions, the technology enables farmers, distributors and cold-storage operators to intervene before losses escalate. The objective is to improve crop quality, enhance yields and strengthen supply chain productivity while increasing the availability of fresh produce for consumers.

To date, the company has deployed 56 sensors across more than ten farms in the Philippines. It has also expanded pilot initiatives through distributor partnerships in Japan, Brunei and Singapore, demonstrating potential for regional scaling.

 

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Navigating Barriers in Agri-Tech Entrepreneurship

 

Building a hardware-focused start-up in agriculture presents structural challenges. Access to capital can be constrained, crop cycles are long and revenue streams may be delayed. In addition, climate variability introduces operational risks that require careful planning.

Santos has noted that introducing new digital tools into agricultural systems often requires sustained trust-building, particularly in sectors traditionally dominated by male operators and established practices.

 

Acceleration Through Gender-Focused Climate Support

 

Participation in the UN Women Climate Tech Accelerator, supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea with contributions from the CHARLES & KEITH Foundation, marked a significant milestone for the company.

The programme provided mentorship beyond technical refinement. It helped the team define measurable impact metrics, strengthen its business model and assess how gender dynamics influence technology adoption. Women farmers and workers are frequently underrepresented in digital agricultural systems, and the accelerator emphasized inclusive deployment strategies.

This structured support enabled AniTech to align climate innovation with social inclusion, reinforcing both operational effectiveness and equity considerations.

 

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Strengthening Food System Resilience

 

Food loss reduction plays a dual role in climate and development policy. Preventing post-harvest spoilage reduces embedded emissions associated with wasted inputs such as water, fertilizer and energy. At the same time, it improves food security and stabilizes incomes for producers.

AniTech’s expansion plans focus on lowering the cost of digital tools, strengthening advisory services and building partnerships that increase access to climate-smart agriculture solutions.

The company’s trajectory illustrates how climate technology, when paired with targeted support for women-led enterprises, can address structural inefficiencies in food systems. As climate risks intensify and supply chains face greater volatility, data-driven monitoring tools are increasingly viewed as essential components of resilient agricultural infrastructure.