Four BS Biology students from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City have been selected as finalists in the inaugural Leave a Nest Philippines Regional Visayas Tech Planter competition.
The USLS team, called “The 4 Phosphateers”, consists of Charles Gan, Jed Emmanuel Reysoma, Jules Vern Garcia, and Rein Nillos, under the mentorship of Dr. Joval Martinez. They will compete with eight other teams in the final pitch on Aug. 4 at the Iloilo Convention Center.
Their proposed project, entitled “Harnessing Hot Spring-Derived Thermophilic Bacteria as Phosphate Solubilizers for Enhanced Biofertilizer Development”, stemmed from the works of BS Biology students, who found the potential of a putative novel bacteria that can be used for biofertilizer development, a USLS press release said.
The competition is part of Leave a Nest, a Japanese organization established in 2002, dedicated to advancing science and technology for global happiness.
The Technology Planter initiative, launched in Japan in 2014 and introduced to the Philippines in 2017, aims to support deep tech researchers and startups.
For the first time, the focus is on the Visayas region this year.
Leave a Nest recognizes the importance of decentralized support for local deep tech ecosystems, especially in a country, like the Philippines with its many islands. This approach mirrors Japan’s successful model, where local businesses, banks, and government offices collaborate to nurture startup ecosystems and boost regional economies. ||
