
PhilRootcrops’ Partner Corporation Wins Best Licensee Award 2025
Five Shepherds Corporation of Baybay City was awarded the Best Licensee Award by the Region VIII Department of Science and Technology (DOST-8) on September 5, during the Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit Visayas 2025 held at the Tacloban City Summit Hotel. At the same event, VSU was recognized as the Best Licensor for its continuous efforts in advancing technology innovation and transfer across the region.
The award highlights the Five Shepherd’s achievements in developing the market for licensed technologies while promoting community enterprise growth.

This achievement is a testament to the solid foundation laid by the Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) of VSU, which has maintained strong collaboration with Five Shepherds Corporation, whose mission is to connect research and agri-enterprise development.

Five Shepherds serves as a key partner of the VSU Technology Business Incubator that continues to promote product scalability by fabricating machines for commercial optimization. Beyond supplying technology, the corporation also ensures a wider reach for PhilRootcrops’ innovations, thereby enhancing the rootcrop value chain in the region.
Furthermore, the corporation also serves as one of the incubatees of the center that has adopted key processing technologies, including the portable vacuum fryer and extruder for the production of PhilRootcrops’ signature products, such as vacuum-fried sweet potato and cassava chippy.
This partnership highlights the integration of research and technology development in support of science-based solutions in crop utilization, strengthening capacity-building livelihoods, and agricultural growth.
The DOST Region VIII Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit Visayas 2025 is an avenue for showcasing cutting-edge research and fostering collaborations between academic institutions and industry leaders. Through the TechGrow Exhibit, the summit highlights emerging technologies that support inclusive innovation and regional development across the Region.