Young Southeast Asian leaders from Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines took the spotlight as speakers in a special webinar held by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 14 August 2025 via Zoom and Facebook Live.
In line with International Youth Day, the youth speakers shared insights from their work in driving change in local agrifood systems. They highlighted innovations, challenges, and solutions for engaging more young people in agrifood systems.
Ms. San Thida Aung of Myanmar presented their initiatives for developing next-generation farmers through MyFarmer Labs, an agritech social enterprise pioneering a crowd-farming platform in Myanmar called MyFarmer. The app connects smallholder farmers with individual investors and donors, addressing the pressing issues of access to finance and limited market opportunities.
"Through education and technology, we can prepare them to become innovative, resilient, and future-ready agri-entrepreneurs," said San, Head of Education at MyFarmer Labs.
Building on San's presentation, Filipino agritech founder, Mr. Dennis Ivan Chavez, shared his journey on building a startup while still in university. He shared their experiences in securing funding, building collaboration, and working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
"We need influencers, especially in technology and agriculture, because Gen Zs spend several hours a day on social media," Chavez said.
"We can leverage social media for education and awareness so we can expose the younger generation to greater things out there, such as being part of agri-tech solutions," he added.
Chavez is the Founder and CEO of Fresco Greenovations, a youth-led agri-technopreneurship venture delivering innovative high- and low-tech solutions, from IoT systems to software platforms, designed for grassroots farming in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Ms. Salsabila Andriana presented her initiatives at Sinagi Papua, a social enterprise of indigenous Papuan women in Sorong, Indonesia. As Chief of Creative and Partnerships, she leads activities for promoting cultural preservation and indigenous food innovation among young Papuans.
"One key to youth involvement [in agrifood systems] that I found during my practice is that you need to build awareness and pride, emphasize the importance of their participation, keep them engaged, and create fun," Andriana said, highlighting the essence of finding a balance between work and play for young people.
Attended by over 300 participants from Southeast Asia and beyond, the webinar was part of the SEARCA Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI) initiative.
The webinar recording can be viewed here:
