Philippines Represent: The Adventure of Two Young Agriculturists at GCARD3

A little over a month ago, we published a story about a young Filipina agriculturist, who was given funds for inventing a mechanical bug remover for farmers.

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Her name is Josine of “Jax” Macaspac. 

Her invention can help farmers reduce the damage, as well as, remove all those pesky bugs, leaving behind clean and pure produce.

As luck would have it, her proposal was recognized and she was named as one of the finalists of the Young Agripreneur Program (YAP).

Her invention can help farmers reduce the damage, as well as, remove all those pesky bugs, leaving behind clean and pure produce.

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Jax explaining her incredible invention to GCARD participants.

 Here’s something that we didn’t know until I got to interview Jax after her escapade in South Africa. It turned out, she wasn’t the only one to represent the Philippines, another graduate from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Mr. Jim Leandro Cano, was chosen as the national representative from YPARD Philippines.

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Screenshot from GFAR Global Forum on Agricultural Research YouTube Account

YPARD stands for Youth Professionals for Agriculture and Rural Development, which is a global network that consists of millions of agricultural professionals from all over the world.

And yes, in case you are wondering, it is free to join. Simply go over the YPARD.net, and create your account, and you will be well on your way to being connected to thousands of agricultural professionals on a global scale.

The GCARD (Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development) event, which was the third of its kind, was held at the Birchwood Hotel and O.R. Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from April 5-8. Over 500 people from all over the world, all of them professionals, scientists, and extension experts from the top of their respective fields, attended the event.

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Interview with Jax

Luckily, despite her busy schedule, Jax was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about her trip to South Africa.

Me: So, what did you guys do at GCARD3?

Jax:

The GCARD conference was an amazing mix of people and professions from all over the world –something like an honor roll of global agricultural superstars! To say that Jim and I were overwhelmed to be there, rubbing shoulders with these giants, was an understatement.

Jim was tasked to give a speech on youth inclusion in agriculture on a regional, national, and global scale, and he gave such an inspiring speech. He emphasizes the importance of young blood in agriculture, in both invigorating the traditional methods, as well as modernizing the processes and bringing it into the future.

I, on the other hand, was ambushed with the idea that I needed to give a pitch about the winning YAP proposal in front of the same body of 500+ delegates. I was given three (!) days notice beforehand, but thankfully, I am shameless and ready for anything.

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Aside from our amazing experience in this conference, we were able to create friendships and build networks that would have not been available for us otherwise. Our deepest gratitude for GFAR and YPARD for making this experience possible for us.

Me: Who can join the GCARD3?

Jax:

Here’s the thing about agriculture: whether or not it’s something that you think about on a daily basis, it IS something that affects everyone. And yes, you can be part of this movement as well. There are so many ways that you can become an active and informed Filipino citizen in creating a better, brighter future of Filipino agriculture, and one of the best ways is to become a member of YPARD-Philippines. Here you can find a wealth of information, contacts, and opportunities that can open up new worlds for you.

Just like it did for me.

Who knows, somewhere out there, there might be an opportunity waiting for you to just take it. And you might find yourself waking up in a hotel room on the other side of the world, ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Just like I did.

Thank you, Jax, for your time. The whole team is proud of you. We cannot wait for your invention to flourish and help millions of farmers worldwide.

Do you know someone who deserves a shout out too? Share them in the comment section below!