Empowering the Youth in Food Production: A Collaborative UPLB and DepEd Microgreens Production Initiative for Enhanced Food Security

Oral Presentation. 11th Malikhaing Guro International Conference Caravan on Culture-Based Education. Philippines. October 12, 19, & 26, 2024.

The collaboration between the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños (ICROPS-CAFS, UPLB), and Laguna Science Integrated High School (LaSci) aimed to educate the youth on microgreens production and utilization, with the goal of enhancing food security. This initiative, which is part of the project titled “Increasing Community and Youth Sector Capacity to Produce and Utilize Microgreens for Household Food Security in the Province of Laguna,” integrates sustainable agriculture practices into the school curricula, providing students with knowledge and skills in cultivation techniques, food preparation, and the nutritional benefits of microgreens. Collaborative planning, implementation through structured educational modules, and evaluation of outcomes through reflection questions to assess the program’s impact on student learning were executed by both parties. One activity involved a lecture on microgreens production for 51 Grade 12 students. Nineteen students engaged in a practitioner-sharing lecture and hands-on activities in microgreens cultivation, development of guides for growing mungbean, dun pea, and cowpea microgreens, and creation of recipes using their harvests. Research on factors affecting microgreens production further enriched their learning. These activities, which are part of their Work Immersion Program for SY 2023-2024, deepened students’ understanding of sustainable agriculture and inspired some of them to consider careers in agriculture, contributing to both their personal development and community food resilience efforts. Anticipated outcomes included heightened student awareness of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced food production skills, and strengthened community partnerships to support long-term food security efforts.