Pila, Laguna — October 9, 2025. The Philippines’ first Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub was officially launched in Pila, Laguna on October 7, bringing together national leaders, local officials, international partners, and farmers to showcase groundbreaking solutions that transform rice straw from waste into valuable products.

The event was attended by the Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron of the British Embassy Manila, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-A Fidel L. Libao, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture for the Province of Laguna, Hon. Karla Adajar-Lajara, representatives from other DA agencies, institutional partners, farmer leaders, and local government officials from the province of Laguna.

The Hub demonstrates how rice straw, an abundant but often wasted by-product of rice farming, can be transformed into valuable products such as renewable energy, biochar, and soil amendments. This innovation offers solutions to some of the Philippines’ most pressing challenges in rice farming: open-field burning, greenhouse gas emissions, high production costs, and low farmer incomes.

The Hub, developed by Straw Innovations Inc. with partners Aston University, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Koolmill Systems, Takachar, and Innovate UK, demonstrated how rice straw can be upcycled into biochar, renewable energy, soil amendments, and livestock bedding—while also providing farmers with new business opportunities and reducing harmful methane emissions.

At the launch, participants witnessed live demonstrations of:

Straw Traktor® – a world-first 3-in-1 machine that can collect rice straw even in wet conditions, while spreading soil amendments and rotavating land.

Takavator™ (by Takachar) – a portable system that converts rice straw into biochar, improving soil health and enabling carbon credit opportunities.

Koolmill – a next-generation rice mill that uses up to 90% less energy and reduces grain breakage, increasing profits.

Biogas Production – a demonstration of how low-quality rice straw can be used to produce clean, renewable energy for rural communities.

Beyond technology, the Hub is designed to put farmers at the center of innovation. By making machinery financially accessible, local farmers and entrepreneurs can run profitable businesses offering harvesting and land preparation services. In pilot sites, some operators have already improved their livelihoods to the point of renovating their homes and supporting their families’ education.

Rice straw is also being piloted as deep-litter bedding for swine farmers, reducing waste management costs and producing compost as an additional income source. These early interventions demonstrate how straw management can support farming communities socially, economically, and environmentally.

“What Straw Innovations has done is a huge help—not only are they a business, but they are truly helping the farmers. Not just for us, but we are also able to provide our services to our fellow farmers at a lower cost. That’s why Straw Innovations’ arrival is such a big deal.” — Leonardo Lospe Jr., Farmer, Straw Innovations Partner

Partnerships with Local Government and Agencies

The success of this initiative relies on close collaboration with Philippine government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as well as municipal agriculture offices in Laguna and nearby provinces.

“DA-CRAO welcomes partnerships that can help integrate rice straw solutions into local programs and pilots, supporting productivity, emissions reduction, and rural livelihoods.” — Director Agnes Catherine Miranda, Department of Agriculture - Climate Resilient Agriculture Office&nbsp;

“Aligned with SEARCA’s mission to empower farmers, the development of rice straw management solutions will not only contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also enable communities to turn agricultural wastes into livelihood opportunities that increase incomes. The promotion of policy-backed innovative technologies and strategies indeed help drive the use of climate smart practices that are beneficial to agriculture and environment.” — Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director, SEARCA

“Businesses which treat climate risks as opportunities will define the markets of the future. When UK science meets Philippine innovation, rice straw becomes more than a byproduct, it becomes part of the solution. That partnership lies at the core of the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub: harnessing new technology, developing local business models, and increasing productivity.” — Mr. Lloyd Cameron, Economic and Climate Counsellor, British Embassy Manila

Driving Climate Action and Food Security

Rice is the lifeblood of the Philippines, feeding over 115 million Filipinos and sustaining millions of smallholder farmers. But it also sits at the heart of a global challenge. As a staple food for more than half the world’s population — with 90% of rice grown in Asia — the crop is increasingly vulnerable to climate extremes. Floods, droughts, and typhoons threaten harvests, while rising demand continues to put pressure on food systems.&nbsp;

At the same time, rice farming comes with a steep climate cost. Across Asia, rice straw is often left to rot or is burned in the field, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas more than 80 times more potent than CO₂ in the short term. In the Philippines alone, millions of tons of straw are burned each year, contributing to poor air quality, respiratory health issues, and climate-forcing emissions. In fact, rice cultivation is the country’s largest source of methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change.

The Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub offers a game-changing solution. By deploying innovations like the Straw Traktor®, which works even in flooded fields, farmers can now collect straw efficiently, halve methane emissions, and prepare land quickly enough to unlock an additional harvest each year. With complementary technologies like the Takavator™ biochar system, Koolmill’s energy-efficient rice mill, and biogas production, the Hub transforms what was once a waste problem into a suite of solutions that enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, generate renewable energy, and improve rural livelihoods.

This integrated model directly supports the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement by cutting methane and carbon emissions from agriculture, while also strengthening food security and farmer income. Beyond climate targets, the approach delivers immediate co-benefits: healthier air for rural communities, reduced costs for farmers, and a pathway towards low-emission, regenerative agriculture that helps the Philippines to remain resilient in the face of global food and climate crises.

On October 7, 2025, Straw Innovations and partners launched the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub in Pila, Laguna — the first in the country. The Hub was inaugurated by the British Embassy Manila, Department of Agriculture (DA) and its different agencies, and Laguna LGUs in attendance.

The Hub showcases world-first technologies:
✅ Straw Traktor® – collects straw even in wet fields, saving fuel & doubling efficiency
✅ Takavator™ – turns straw into biochar for soil health & carbon credits
✅ Koolmill™ – uses 90% less energy in milling, reducing grain losses
✅ Biogas Hub – clean energy from rice straw

Beyond technology, the Hub puts farmers first — with leasing schemes for service providers and new uses for straw such as swine bedding and composting.

This milestone helps the Philippines cut methane emissions, boost farmer incomes, and build a more climate-resilient rice sector. Pila, Laguna — October 9, 2025. The Philippines’ first Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub was officially launched in Pila, Laguna on October 7, bringing together national leaders, local officials, international partners, and farmers to showcase groundbreaking solutions that transform rice straw from waste into valuable products.The event was attended by the Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron of the British Embassy Manila, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-A Fidel L. Libao, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture for the Province of Laguna, Hon. Karla Adajar-Lajara, representatives from other DA agencies, institutional partners, farmer leaders, and local government officials from the province of Laguna.<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/fa98c04f-a95b-4d11-900d-3fe7a09b4c00/public" alt="From left: Prof. Mirjam Roeder (Aston University), Hon. Karla Adajar-Lajara (LGU-Laguna), Craig Jamieson (Straw Innovations), Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam (SEARCA), Mr. Lloyd Cameron (British Embassy Manila), Ms. Marycris Ite (Department of Agriculture), and Alec Anderson (KoolMill Systems) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub (RSBH) in Pila, Laguna." />The Hub demonstrates how rice straw, an abundant but often wasted by-product of rice farming, can be transformed into valuable products such as renewable energy, biochar, and soil amendments. This innovation offers solutions to some of the Philippines’ most pressing challenges in rice farming: open-field burning, greenhouse gas emissions, high production costs, and low farmer incomes.The Hub, developed by Straw Innovations Inc. with partners Aston University, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Koolmill Systems, Takachar, and Innovate UK, demonstrated how rice straw can be upcycled into biochar, renewable energy, soil amendments, and livestock bedding—while also providing farmers with new business opportunities and reducing harmful methane emissions. Technologies ShowcasedAt the launch, participants witnessed live demonstrations of:Straw Traktor® – a world-first 3-in-1 machine that can collect rice straw even in wet conditions, while spreading soil amendments and rotavating land.Takavator™ (by Takachar) – a portable system that converts rice straw into biochar, improving soil health and enabling carbon credit opportunities.Koolmill – a next-generation rice mill that uses up to 90% less energy and reduces grain breakage, increasing profits.Biogas Production – a demonstration of how low-quality rice straw can be used to produce clean, renewable energy for rural communities. <img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/6d57100a-60d8-4360-d50d-0cd4c188e600/public" alt="Participants observe the mushroom production station during the grand launch of the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub (RSBH) in Pila, Laguna, showcasing rice straw as a sustainable substrate for mushroom cultivation." /><img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/36e697d9-b1e7-4347-8d7e-c6fd446e2300/public" alt="Participants witness the KoolMill efficient milling technology — the first of its kind in the Philippines — demonstrating how rice can be milled using up to 90% less energy while improving grain quality and yield." /><img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/3966a35e-123a-4aa1-1b8e-dcc938952c00/public" alt="From left: Dr. Carlito Balimbing (IRRI), Jim Leandro Cano (GOEden), Hon. Karla Adajar-Lajara (LGU-Laguna), and Dr. Nino Paul Meynard Banayo (LGU-Laguna) inspect rice grains during the demo tour of the KoolMill efficient milling technology, the first in the Philippines." />A Farmer-Centered Approach<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/4581d08f-7020-4c1f-9621-e7a9774bc200/public" alt="Participants and partners gather for a group photo during Day 2 of the Farmers’ Day and Techno-Demonstration at the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub in Pila, Laguna." />Beyond technology, the Hub is designed to put farmers at the center of innovation. By making machinery financially accessible, local farmers and entrepreneurs can run profitable businesses offering harvesting and land preparation services. In pilot sites, some operators have already improved their livelihoods to the point of renovating their homes and supporting their families’ education.Rice straw is also being piloted as deep-litter bedding for swine farmers, reducing waste management costs and producing compost as an additional income source. These early interventions demonstrate how straw management can support farming communities socially, economically, and environmentally.<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/3c18df10-3770-471b-f149-a9c3fbfa3600/public" alt="Farmers take part in the demo tour of the suite of agri-machineries, featuring technologies designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and promote sustainable rice farming practices." /><img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/d67477f0-2e5b-4c40-e1ed-9f777437ac00/public" alt="Participants visit the biogas production station, where rice straw is converted into clean, renewable energy for rural communities." /><img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/56bb1b5a-ca74-4100-6514-a70db2968100/public" alt="Farmers learn about mushroom cultivation using rice straw, highlighting circular agriculture and additional livelihood opportunities from rice by-products." /><img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/e12391ab-84a2-4ec0-d6b3-0765723c8000/public" alt="Farmers and guests observe the KoolMill efficient milling technology in action, which uses less energy while improving rice milling efficiency and quality." />“What Straw Innovations has done is a huge help—not only are they a business, but they are truly helping the farmers. Not just for us, but we are also able to provide our services to our fellow farmers at a lower cost. That’s why Straw Innovations’ arrival is such a big deal.” — Leonardo Lospe Jr., Farmer, Straw Innovations Partner Partnerships with Local Government and Agencies<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://imagedelivery.net/H6_s_Eb_ylTWnSEV3HlmYQ/8d62de0e-f9fb-4c42-cfab-cc11fe905600/public" alt="From left: Hon. Queen Marilyd Alarva (LGU-Pila), Mr. Ariel Almalvez (Farmer Leader – Calauan), Ms. Ma. Evita Roqueza (Farmer Leader – Pila), Dr. Nino Paul Meynard Banayo (LGU-Laguna), and Dr. Ando Radanielson (IRRI) during the panel discussion on “Upscaling Alternative Rice Straw Management Strategies in the Philippines.”" />The success of this initiative relies on close collaboration with Philippine government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as well as municipal agriculture offices in Laguna and nearby provinces.“DA-CRAO welcomes partnerships that can help integrate rice straw solutions into local programs and pilots, supporting productivity, emissions reduction, and rural livelihoods.” — Director Agnes Catherine Miranda, Department of Agriculture - Climate Resilient Agriculture Office&nbsp;“Aligned with SEARCA’s mission to empower farmers, the development of rice straw management solutions will not only contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also enable communities to turn agricultural wastes into livelihood opportunities that increase incomes. The promotion of policy-backed innovative technologies and strategies indeed help drive the use of climate smart practices that are beneficial to agriculture and environment.” — Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director, SEARCA“Businesses which treat climate risks as opportunities will define the markets of the future. When UK science meets Philippine innovation, rice straw becomes more than a byproduct, it becomes part of the solution. That partnership lies at the core of the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub: harnessing new technology, developing local business models, and increasing productivity.” — Mr. Lloyd Cameron, Economic and Climate Counsellor, British Embassy Manila Driving Climate Action and Food SecurityRice is the lifeblood of the Philippines, feeding over 115 million Filipinos and sustaining millions of smallholder farmers. But it also sits at the heart of a global challenge. As a staple food for more than half the world’s population — with 90% of rice grown in Asia — the crop is increasingly vulnerable to climate extremes. Floods, droughts, and typhoons threaten harvests, while rising demand continues to put pressure on food systems.&nbsp;At the same time, rice farming comes with a steep climate cost. Across Asia, rice straw is often left to rot or is burned in the field, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas more than 80 times more potent than CO₂ in the short term. In the Philippines alone, millions of tons of straw are burned each year, contributing to poor air quality, respiratory health issues, and climate-forcing emissions. In fact, rice cultivation is the country’s largest source of methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change.The Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub offers a game-changing solution. By deploying innovations like the Straw Traktor®, which works even in flooded fields, farmers can now collect straw efficiently, halve methane emissions, and prepare land quickly enough to unlock an additional harvest each year. With complementary technologies like the Takavator™ biochar system, Koolmill’s energy-efficient rice mill, and biogas production, the Hub transforms what was once a waste problem into a suite of solutions that enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, generate renewable energy, and improve rural livelihoods.This integrated model directly supports the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement by cutting methane and carbon emissions from agriculture, while also strengthening food security and farmer income. Beyond climate targets, the approach delivers immediate co-benefits: healthier air for rural communities, reduced costs for farmers, and a pathway towards low-emission, regenerative agriculture that helps the Philippines to remain resilient in the face of global food and climate crises.

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On October 7, 2025, Straw Innovations and partners launched the Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub in Pila, Laguna — the first in the country. The Hub was inaugurated by the British Embassy Manila, Department of Agriculture (DA) and its different agencies, and Laguna LGUs in attendance.

The Hub showcases world-first technologies:
✅ Straw Traktor® – collects straw even in wet fields, saving fuel & doubling efficiency
✅ Takavator™ – turns straw into biochar for soil health & carbon credits
✅ Koolmill™ – uses 90% less energy in milling, reducing grain losses
✅ Biogas Hub – clean energy from rice straw

Beyond technology, the Hub puts farmers first — with leasing schemes for service providers and new uses for straw such as swine bedding and composting.

This milestone helps the Philippines cut methane emissions, boost farmer incomes, and build a more climate-resilient rice sector.

Straw Innovations launches Philippines’ first Rice Straw Bioenergy Hub in Laguna

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Straw Innovations Inc. is a sustainability-focused agritech company transforming rice straw — one of Asia’s largest agricultural waste streams — into valuable resources. Founded in 2018 and based in Laguna, Philippines, the company pioneers the Reverse Refinery™ model, integrating technologies like the Straw Traktor®, Takavator™, and KoolMill™ to reduce costs, save energy, and boost farmer incomes. Working with partners across Asia, Straw Innovations is helping rice farmers unlock new income streams while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a more resilient, efficient rice supply chain.