SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) — In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for food security, a summer leadership camp in Nueva Ecija is inspiring a new generation of Filipinos to value rice, respect farmers, and safeguard the country’s food future.
The Be RICEponsible Summer Leadership Camp, held at the RICEsParK of the Future Rice Farm brought together about 20 children aged 10 to 12 for an immersive learning experience focused on leadership, agriculture, and responsible rice consumption.
Philippine Rice Research Institute Community Relations Office Head Laarnie Mandia said the camp seeks to develop young leaders who understand the challenges faced by farmers and appreciate the value of rice beyond its role as a daily staple.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over food waste and the aging population of Filipino farmers.
Data from the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute show that Filipinos waste approximately 542,477.6 metric tons of milled rice annually—an amount sufficient to feed about 5.17 million people.
At the same time, the average age of Filipino farmers has reached 55 to 57 years old, highlighting the need to encourage greater youth appreciation for agriculture.
Developed through the partnership of PhilRice and Kiwanis International–Philippine Luzon District, RICEsParK serves as an educational campsite that introduces children to rice science, farming technologies, and the importance of food responsibility through interactive and experiential learning.
Participants took part in obstacle courses, rice science sessions, farm machinery demonstrations, and rice art activities designed to teach the A-B-C of being RICEponsible: avoid rice wastage, buy our farmers’ rice, and choose healthier rice.
For 11-year-old participant Jaked Lourd Dimatera, the camp offered a deeper understanding of the effort required to produce food.
“We all learned that rice was not supposed to be wasted. In this simple action, we can show how we value the effort of our rice farmers,” he shared.
By instilling discipline, leadership, and appreciation for agriculture at an early age, the initiative supports the national government’s broader agenda of building a food-secure Philippines while inspiring future generations to become active partners in sustaining the country’s rice industry. (CLJD/CNG, PIA 3-Nueva Ecija)
