Sustainable solar dryer prototype developed for Philippine fisherfolk

Traditional sun-drying methods for agricultural and aquatic products in the Philippines, like rice, corn, and fish, are prone to contamination by dust, dirt, and insects. Ateneo de Manila University researchers have developed an affordable multilevel solar dryer for households to dry fish and other agricultural products to provide a sustainable alternative. The solar dryer is equipped with a solar-powered monitoring and control system that measures the temperature and humidity inside the dryer to regulate the condition and optimize the drying process.

This innovative dryer was designed with input from local farming and fisherfolk communities and deployed in a fisherfolk household in Bani, Zambales. It effectively traps heat to enhance the drying process. Tests on dried bisugo, mataan, and danggit fish showed they met the Philippine national standard for dried fish, indicating high-quality preservation.

The solar dryer costs Php 20,000.00 (USD 350.00), making it an affordable and efficient solution for local communities. This project, led by Joseph Vincent B Lugnasin, Robert Alfie S Peña, and Dr Erees Queen B Macabebe from Ateneo's School of Science and Engineering, with Samuel Matthew G Dumlao from Kyoto University, highlights the power of community collaboration in addressing agricultural challenges sustainably.