Bayer Calls The Young Generation The Hopes Of The Future Of Indonesian Agriculture

Agriculture (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Bayer Indonesia said that the sustainability of the future of the agricultural sector is in the hands of the younger generation.

"At Bayer, we firmly believe that the younger generation is the hope of the future of Indonesian agriculture," said the leader of NextGen Agricultural Leader, Bayer Crop Science, Nele Herrmann Valente quoting Antara.

Global companies in the fields of health and agriculture believe that the younger generation has their own ideas and approaches to a wide range of global major issues, such as climate change, food system transformation, and food security closely related to agriculture. But Nele also understands that the level of participation of the younger generation in the agricultural sector is still relatively low, such as in the Asian region, the average age of Filipino farmers in the range 57 years, Thailand 54 years, and Japan even 66 years. In Indonesia itself, based on the agricultural census in 2023 from BPS, the majority of farmers are 55 years old. Millennials (27-42 years) are only 25.61 percent, smallest compared to generation X (42.39 percent) and baby boomers (27.61 percent). "Therefore one way of reaching the younger generation is through collaboration to become equal partners for them," continued Nele. Nele. Nele explained that this parallel partnership was implemented through the collaboration with the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) or the largest student organization in the world in agriculture and related science. "We are committed to supporting IAAS with its initiatives, including ICYA, since 2021," said Nele..

Through ICYA 2024, young people in the agricultural field are expected to be more empowered to come up with ideas, innovate and revolutionize agricultural practices to achieve zero hunger (zero hunter) by 2030 in line with the large target of sustainable development goals (SDGs) from the United Nations. The existence of ICYA in Yogyakarta this time provided momentum for IAAS chapter Indonesia to show the existence of young people with agricultural interests in the country with an applicative solution.ICYA this time includes mutual knowledge and experience (workshop) activities as well as visits to agricultural centers with better life (Better Life Farming Center/BLFC) as well as the second largest agricultural research and development center in Southeast Asia in Juwiring, Klaten, Central Java.