The Institute of Biology, with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute of UPD, Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Institute of Plant Breeding, UPLB, embarked in a project funded by the DOST-PCIEERD in 2018 to establish a smart indoor farm for food production. This project aptly called SPICE – Smart Plant Production In Controlled Environment, recently had the ceremonial harvesting of crops from one of three developed facilities with a fully controlled environment set up.

In the photo from left to right are: Giovanni A. Tapang (CS Dean), Fidel R. Nemenzo (UPD Chancellor), Danilo L. Concepcion (UP President), Jessica D. Rey (SPICE Project Leader), Hon. Fortunato T. de la Peña (DOST Secretary), Carl Michael F. Odulio (SPICE Program Leader), Eric C. Paringit (DOST-PCIEERD Director) and Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla (IB Director).Not in photo: Marc Rosales (SPICE Project Leader)