SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—An American company specializing in storage and preservation systems for dry agricultural commodities is now manufacturing an innovative drying facility that could protect grains against rain, ultraviolet (UV) rays and other contaminants.
GrainPro Inc.—which manufactures most of its products in this free port through wholly owned subsidiary GrainPro Philippines Inc.—recently introduced its patented solar bubble dryer (SBD).
GrainPro Philippines President and CEO Tom de Bruin said the cost-efficient dryer can protect commodities from unexpected rain and “significantly improve drying for farmers anywhere.”
“Farmers can now dry commodities without delay and quality deterioration. This helps them maximize their production and income,” De Bruin said.
The SBD is a collapsible drying facility that acts like a bubble and traps solar radiation to heat the agricultural commodities and then vaporizes and expels out moisture with the use of ventilators.
The facility can hold up to 1 metric ton in one drying cycle and can be used to dry rice, coffee, cocoa, wheat, corn, millet and beans.
The dryer is made from durable materials, said Pat Borlagdan, the firm’s chief scientist for research and development. Its cover is made of transparent polyethylene that is UV-resistant and water repellent. The drying floor is made of sturdy plastic that prevents water from penetrating from below in case of heavy rain.
The dryer is powered by either solar energy for the SBD50-Solar model, or electricity from the grid for the SBD50-Electric variant.
“The SBD is a technology developed with food security as its ultimate goal,” Borlagdan said during a technology symposium in the product launch.
“As such, it will help address inadequate agri-based technologies in order to help farmers ensure higher crop yield, thereby ultimately translating to higher food production and enough food supply for the Filipinos,” he added.
GrainPro officials also pointed out that the average drying rate for the SBD is 0.5-percent moisture content per hour for paddy rice and corn. During sunny weather, it also provides a faster drying rate than conventional sun-drying.
Henry Empeño | Correspondent