Robinsons Offices, FarmTop unite for greener future

Growing together

MANILA, Philippines — In a world faced with environmental challenges and growing food insecurity, a remarkable initiative has emerged, guided by a shared vision and a genuine commitment to making a difference. Robinsons Offices and FarmTop have united in a quest to create a greener and brighter future—one that cares for our planet and uplifts our communities.

Robinsons Offices, the developer of premium, sustainable, and future-ready offices under Robinsons Land Corp., has committed to collaborate with FarmTop to develop sky farms in strategically located office buildings around the country.

FarmTop (farm-to-plate) is an enterprise and a lifestyle brand that promotes urban agriculture utilizing rooftops to address the growing demand for fresh produce delivered right at your doorsteps and direct to your plate. This also lessens our dependence on farmlands that are on a rapid decline due to climate change and rapid widescale development into urban centers.

Under the “farm-to-plate” concept, fresh vegetables are produced much closer to where they are consumed, typically within a five-kilometer radius. This minimizes the carbon footprint that traditional farm-to-market routes would typically entail.

Each rooftop farm can produce as much as five tons of vegetables a month, according to Danny Dy, president and CEO of FarmTop. The yield can serve the wider market of condominiums, offices, schools, hotels, and restaurants within its vicinity.

This collaboration embodies a holistic approach, where social, environmental, and economic aspects harmoniously converge to nurture a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

By 2025, food insecurity, or the lack of steady access to affordable, nutritious food for a healthy life is predicted to reach dire levels in the Philippines, leading to hunger on a nationwide scale.

“By tying up with FarmTop, we are able to offer alternative means to healthy eating. We can provide the space, expand the market, and create jobs for urban farmers,” said Jericho Go, Robinsons Offices senior vice president and general manager. The company’s involvement goes beyond corporate interests, it demonstrates their dedication to their employees’ well-being.  “We recognize the power of eating healthy in boosting productivity and promoting overall wellness” Go said.

Notably, Robinsons Offices’ employees stand to benefit directly from the rooftop farms. By providing their workforce with access to fresh produce, the company practices the ethos that charity begins at home. This initiative not only promotes healthier living among employees but also creates a ripple effect that extends to broader communities.

The partnership aims to create an awareness of how rooftop farming or controlled environment agriculture is a technology-based method of producing food.“ The goal is to control all our farm environment through my smartphone,” Dy said. “We want to make farming more sexy.”

Through hydroponics or soilless farming in a controlled environment, crops are sustained by water, carbon dioxide, energy, and nutrients instead of conventional soil and pesticides.

The soilless method, often referred to as ‘post-organic’ reduces the risk of attacks from soil-based pests and weeds.

By cultivating seeds in trays and racks, it optimizes the rooftop space allowing for more yield per square meter and a shorter growth time.

This method encourages the younger generation to become farm scientists by bridging traditional practices with modern technology.

The agripreneur recalls that FarmTop recruited farmers and civilians, displaced by the Marawi siege, were brought to Manila to learn new technology for farming. Janitors and waiters, who lost their jobs in the pandemic, were hired as riders for the FarmTop deliveries.

FarmTop’s approach involves educating these farmers about cutting-edge agricultural techniques, such as hydroponics, which maximizes crop yield and resource efficiency. These methods often require less land, less water, and fewer pesticides compared to traditional farming, making them more environmentally friendly and economically viable.

Training farmers in advanced practices empowers them to leverage digital tools and data-driven insights for more efficient crop management and resource utilization which not only assists in economic recovery but also contributes to the overall enhancement of food production and sustainability.