UP student wins James Dyson Award with salt-farming solution

John Carlo Luna Reyes, an industrial design student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, has been named the Philippine national winner of the 20th James Dyson Award for his invention SolAsin. The compact, solar-powered salt-farming unit is designed to help coastal communities revive salt production and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

Reyes’ design addresses the long-term decline of the Philippine salt industry. Despite the passage of the Salt Industry Development Law, the country still imports about 93% of its salt needs. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, coastal road projects, and limited government support have disrupted traditional salt beds, leaving many coastal families without stable livelihoods.

“Growing up in Pangasinan, I saw firsthand how coastal communities struggled to access sustainable livelihood opportunities,” Reyes said. “As a designer and an Iskolar ng Bayan, I have always felt a responsibility to use my skills to empower my own community.”

Unlike traditional salt beds that require vast land and capital, SolAsin only needs filtered seawater, sunlight, and occasional remixing. It produces premium flaky salt, which has higher market value and can be sold to local businesses and tourists. Reyes worked closely with residents, local officials, and environmental offices to refine the prototype and confirm its usability.

“SolAsin’s thoughtful integration of local resources and community feedback makes it a standout solution,” said Melvin John Dela Peña, national judge of James Dyson Award Philippines and senior programme manager at Dyson.

Reyes received ₱361,300 as the national prize, which he plans to use to further develop the design and prepare for mass production.

“SolAsin stood out for its simplicity, scalability and social impact,” said Dr. Jaine Cadoc-Reyes, national judge of James Dyson Award Philippines and professor at UP Los Baños. “It’s a brilliant example of how design can empower communities and revive local industries.”

The Philippine runners-up are ChillWise, a cooling panel system made from agro-waste developed at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and Lambooply, a bamboo- and Lampakanay-based sustainable material also from MSU-IIT.

All three projects will move to the international stage of the competition, where winners will be announced in November.

“This recognition is more than just a personal achievement, it is a win for the communities that inspired SolAsin,” Reyes said. “My goal has always been to design with and for the people, and this award gives me the opportunity to further develop the project so it can truly uplift local salt farmers.”