“Be a scientist, you will see the world and the world will see you.” Taking it from his own experience, SEARCA Director and National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Academician Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio challenged more than 200 high school students to consider a career in in the field of agriculture during the launch of the Online Youth Engagement in Agriculture held on 23 January 2021 via Zoom and Facebook.
Fully committed to this cause, SEARCA is working with the University of the Philippines Rural High School (UPRHS), UPRHS Alumni Association, Inc., and the East-West Seed Foundation in an 18-week online program that aims to engage students in agriculture and encourage the youth to pursue careers in agriculture and its related fields to help increase the workforce that can lead the country to food self-sufficiency.
SEARCA Director and NAST Academician Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio shares his experiences in the field of agriculture.Recalling the early beginnings of his illustrious career, Dr. Gregorio said “when you dare to dream, you have to be adventurous and curious and at the same time, fuel your curiosity by asking a lot of questions and seeking the best answers.”
Dr. Gregorio also advised the students to stay on course. “This is one of the greatest values that I learned–you need to be very patient with your dream,” he said. He urged them to take risks, be innovative in treading their career path, and nurture good relationships with people they meet along the way.
National Scientist Dr. Emil Q. Javier highlights the significant role of youth in reinvigorating the agriculture industry.National Scientist Dr. Emil Q. Javier was also on hand to discuss the state of Philippine agriculture and the role of the youth in reinvigorating the industry. “Agriculture is a noble calling,” Dr. Javier noted. “In the hierarchy of professions, we should not forget the nobility of the vocation of feeding the hungry.” He also expressed his desire to motivate young people to engage in the science and practice of agriculture.
The UPRHS-spearheaded program, which will run weekly from 30 January to 29 May 2021, is a potential alternative to the Senior High School Work Immersion (WI) for Grade 12 students under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track as part of their graduation requirements from the Department of Education. With the shift to online format, the program plans to expand the coverage from the 10 schools in the province of Laguna that were originally identified. The team has also reached out to Junior High School students to develop appreciation of agriculture at a younger age.
Experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the East-West Seed Foundation have been tapped to discuss topics such as integrated pest management, home gardening, aquaculture, agri-entrepreneurship, and smart farming, among others. Meanwhile, SEARCA will be taking the lead in five sessions focused on agri-biotechnology.
Aligned with the Center's initiatives under the Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI), the UPRHS Youth Program on Agriculture is among the recipients of SEARCA’s Seed Fund for Research and Development (SFRT)
“We hope that through this youth engagement program and the other youth initiatives of SEARCA, we will be able to help you find your dream, and most importantly, help you start working on your dream,” Dr. Gregorio told the high school students in attendance.