CEBU CITY, Philippines — A Cebu-based agritech startup is using science and technology to tackle one of Philippine agriculture’s most persistent problems: getting farm products from producers to reliable buyers.
ARKA Inc., an agricultural technology company founded in Cebu, has received a P2.9-million research grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to develop a system designed to strengthen the connection between farmers and institutional markets, including hotels.
The project is aimed at making the farm-to-market chain more efficient by helping farming communities better understand demand, organize production and connect with potential buyers.
“Without DOST, we could not be here,” ARKA founder Neil Clyde Kho said, underscoring the role of government-backed research and innovation funding in helping the startup develop its technology.
From farms to hotel kitchens
At the center of ARKA’s model is a simple but difficult problem: farmers may be able to produce crops, but finding consistent and predictable markets can be just as challenging.
ARKA describes itself as an agri-supply-chain platform connecting farmers directly to business-to-business clients, with the goal of building a more sustainable farm-to-market system.
The company’s approach seeks to reduce the disconnect between what farmers produce and what institutional buyers need.
For hotels and other food businesses, a more organized supply chain can potentially make it easier to identify suppliers and source local agricultural products. For farmers, access to clearer market signals could help them make better decisions about what to plant, how much to produce and when to harvest.
That market connection is particularly important in agriculture, where unpredictable demand, fragmented supply chains and logistics can contribute to income instability and food waste.
DOST support puts research behind the business
The P2.9-million grant is significant not simply because it provides funding, but because it allows a young technology company to develop and validate a solution to a real agricultural problem.
DOST has increasingly positioned science, technology and innovation as tools for improving the productivity and competitiveness of Filipino enterprises and communities.
In Central Visayas, the agency has expanded its support for smart agriculture and innovation. In March 2026, DOST launched the Central Visayas Smart AgriTech Hub, or SARAi Regional Hub, alongside the Innovation Hub Central Visayas to help bring science-based technologies closer to farms, startups and communities.
DOST also reported in July that it is pushing for more homegrown, science-based solutions following the region’s experience with devastating natural calamities. Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the need to translate science and technology into practical solutions that improve the lives of Filipinos.
ARKA fits into that broader push by applying technology to one of the country’s most persistent agricultural challenges: connecting production with markets.
ARKA’s wider mission
ARKA’s work is not limited to simply creating an online marketplace.
DOST has described the company’s Ark of Agriculture (ARKA) as an agricultural supply-chain platform designed to connect farming communities directly to markets while improving productivity and yields.
The startup has also been working with government agencies.
In April 2024, representatives of ARKA met with officials of the Department of Agriculture–Central Visayas (DA-7) to explore possible collaboration on programs aligned with the company’s goal of empowering local farming communities through data-driven approaches, advanced agricultural technologies and business strategies.
ARKA has since continued appearing in government-supported innovation and food-industry initiatives. DOST-PCIEERD included ARKA among the Philippine food MSMEs showcased at IFEX Philippines 2025, an international food exhibition intended to connect local enterprises with business and market opportunities.
The company was also identified by Shell Philippines as one of the community enterprises participating in its 2024 LiveWIRE Acceleration Program, where ARKA was recognized for connecting farming communities with markets.
Why the model matters
The Philippines has long struggled with inefficiencies in the agricultural value chain. Farmers can face difficulty accessing markets, while businesses that need consistent supplies can struggle to find reliable producers.
Other Philippine agritech ventures have pursued similar farm-to-business models. In 2022, for example, MooMart promoted a digital marketplace intended to allow farmers to sell directly to food and beverage businesses, including restaurants and hotels, while reducing reliance on multiple intermediaries.
Agro-DigitalPH has likewise developed a model around forecasting production and connecting organized farmer groups with large buyers. In a 2025 Manila Bulletin report, the company said it was supplying vegetables to supermarkets as well as hotels and restaurants, illustrating the growing push toward more organized farm-to-business supply chains.
What makes ARKA’s story particularly notable is its combination of agriculture, technology, research funding and institutional market access.
The bigger challenge
The real test now is whether the technology can move beyond a promising startup concept and produce measurable results for farmers.
A successful platform would need to do more than connect buyers and sellers. It would have to help make agricultural production more predictable, strengthen farmer incomes, improve supply reliability and address the logistical difficulties involved in moving fresh produce from farms to commercial buyers.
That is where the DOST-backed research becomes crucial.
If ARKA can successfully turn market information and agricultural data into better production decisions, the technology could potentially help shorten the distance between the farmer who grows the food and the hotel that ultimately serves it.
For Cebu’s agricultural sector, that could mean something bigger than another digital platform.
It could be a step toward a farm-to-market system where farmers have a clearer idea of who will buy their harvest before they even plant it.
And that may be the most important part of ARKA’s experiment: not simply finding a market for farmers, but helping farmers produce for a market that is already waiting.
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