By CPUGAD TBI

LECA, incubated by CPUGAD TBI and led by CEO Prime Nicolli Acdol, shines as one of the Top 24 regional qualifiers in the 2025 Young Farmers Challenge, showcasing innovation in modern Philippine agriculture.

Innovation is often compared to a seed that needs the right environment to grow. At Cultivating Innovation: LECA for the Young Farmers Challenge in CPUGAD TBI, we provide a nest, a supportive space where ideas are nurtured, protected, and prepared to succeed in the real world. This commitment to growth was recently highlighted by the remarkable performance of our incubatee, LECA, led by its visionary CEO, Prime Nicolli Acdol, during the regional level of the 2025 Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Start-Up Competition.

The YFC is a prestigious initiative by the Department of Agriculture designed to empower the next generation of agripreneurs. Out of a competitive pool of regional qualifiers from across Western Visayas, Prime and the LECA team were recognized as one of the Top 24 qualifiers. This milestone is a testament to the rigorous incubation process at our hub, where we help young innovators move from basic concepts to a solid Business Model Canvas (AgriBMC) capable of standing up to national standards.

For Prime, the journey to the regional stage was an opportunity to link with like-minded youth who share a passion for modernizing the Philippine agricultural sector. By stepping into this competitive arena, LECA demonstrated that the “new face of farming” is one rooted in technology and business sustainability. The competition challenged Prime to refine the startup’s value proposition, ensuring that their solutions aren’t just creative but also viable and impactful for the local farming community.

A key part of the “pugad” experience is the ability to launch solutions that bridge the gap between tradition and technology. LECA’s participation in the YFC showcased how youth-led enterprises can address food security through fresh, innovative lenses. Our role at the TBI is to ensure that founders like Prime have the tools and confidence to present their ideas to esteemed judges and technical experts, turning academic potential into market-ready reality.

As LECA continues its journey toward enterprise implementation, the mission remains clear: to lead the way toward a more resilient future. We are incredibly proud of Prime for embodying the spirit of a true “Centralian” innovator. While the competition marks a specific event, the growth of the startup is an ongoing process. We look forward to supporting LECA as they continue to sprout, grow, and eventually transform the agricultural landscape of Western Visayas and beyond.