Italpinas injects urban farming into projects

Boutique property developer Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC) plans to incorporate urban organic farming into high-rise developments, intending to make use of rooftops and other areas to produce food.

IDC teamed up with agricultural business consultant AccelSprout Corp. to jump-start urban organic farming in the company’s current and future projects. They are discussing how to make use of AccelSprout’s expertise in organic urban farming to integrate green roofs in IDC’s green amenities.

AccelSprout, led by chief executive officer Glen Villaroman, offers farming models for urban agricultural developments that are combined with strategic planning, farm monitoring and market linkage.

For its part, IDC is planning to incorporate a green rooftop and orchard in phase 1 of Primavera City in Cagayan de Oro, a residential cluster that is nearing completion, IDC chair Romolo Nati said.

For phase 2, which is set for launching in the first quarter of 2019, Nati said an even bigger green rooftop would be featured.

Nati said IDC’s flagship Luzon project, Miramonti Green Residences in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, would also implement green roofing in its future projects.

“Since we are advocating sustainable development, it’s not only about energy or water but also about food and community. Agricultural activity can bring people together,” he said.

Villaroman, who is also the national mentor for GoNegosyo’s Kapatid Agri-Mentor Me Program, said rooftops offered an ideal space for urban agricultural development.

He said IDC and AccelSprout shared a common advocacy in taking care of the environment, raising the issue on food security as a pressing problem in the Philippines. He is hoping his projects could help temper food prices in the country.