Five young professionals advocating for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation took center stage during the recent Youth, Agriculture and the Environment Session of the Third Philippine Environment Summit in Cagayan de Oro City.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) hosted the session, which featured youth initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture practices, environmental protection and the circular economy.
The speakers were Louise Mabulo, founder of The Cacao Project and United Nations Environment Programme's Young Champion of the Earth; Cherrys Abrigo, founder of Sierreza Café; Enzo Pinga, business development and partnerships head of IISLA Ventures; Rein Hillary Carrascal, beauty queen and ambassador of Hapi LIFE Foundation; and Michelle Dagsaan, Higaonon youth representative of Samdhana Institute.
"SEARCA believes in the power of the youth. In the ASEAN region alone, 1 out of 3 belongs to the youth sector, which makes it a strong collective force to bring transformation in the agriculture and environment sectors," said Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA director.
An overview of Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI) was provided by Sonny P. Pasiona, project development and technical services (PDTS) staff.
#Y4AGRI is SEARCA's banner initiative for engaging and empowering young people—from children to high school, university students and young professionals—in agriculture and rural development.
On behalf of Gregorio, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, SEARCA technical consultant for PDTS, moderated the session and introduced the center's current programs and highlights of the upcoming 11th five-year plan to over 200 session participants from academe, government and the private sector.
The youth speakers presented their best practices, challenges and solutions to their respective projects.
They also shared their motivations and personal difficulties in their advocacies especially at a young age.
In a panel discussion, the speakers emphasized the need to promote innovative and sustainable practices in agriculture and the environment, and the key roles of the youth in this endeavor.
They called for more engagement of and support for young people, particularly through funding and mentorship.
The youth session is the first in an ARD Discussion Series as an avenue to tackle; solicit ideas; and establish collaboration with stakeholder groups on emerging, and on-the-ground challenges for achieving sustainable agriculture and rural development.
The Environment Summit was coorganized by Green Convergence and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Themed "Paradigm [re] Shift: Heeding Nature," the three-day event presented programs and projects that advance the country's socioeconomic development while protecting the environment. This year's summit aimed to enhance the convergence of various individuals and institutions to tackle issues in and accelerate solutions for sustainable development.
