January 24th is known as International Day of Education – a day to recognize the role of education in promoting peace and development. On this important day, Empower Youth4Food shines a spotlight on the significance of agricultural education – a crucial yet often overlooked field that sustains our population and supports a sustainable future.

Let’s get to know two Vietnamese young professionals who pursued a degree in agriculture!

Meet Truong Ba Tung, also known as Tommy, a young professional working in Vietnam's agribusiness sector. Inspired by his family’s business, Tommy decided to explore the sector and pursued a bachelor's degree in agribusiness at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and IPU New Zealand.

Tommy’s career journey shows the profound impact that pursuing an agricultural degree can have. As an international sales leader for a tourism company, Tommy combines his agricultural knowledge with his passion for sustainable tourism, focusing on agricultural and nature-based tours in Vietnam.  “My studies have broadened my perspective, helped me better appreciate Vietnam’s resources, and laid a solid foundation for my career in this industry,” said Tommy.

Similarly, Hoang Thi Thu exchanged Vietnam for the Netherlands to pursue her degree in Food Safety at Wageningen University & Research. She gained more interest in the topic when the largest dairy poisoning - melamine - caused serious concerns among many parents in the region and there were rising concerns of chemical contaminants in agricultural products due to incorrect use of agrochemicals. It made Thu wonder how these harmful products went through the quality control system that easily and it inspired her to come back to university to study food safety. “We need food to survive but also need to learn how to feed the hungry planet with minimal impact to our natural environment. It is an art,” she said.

Thu’s education journey equipped her with solid knowledge and international experience and networks that opened numerous career opportunities. After her graduation, she involved in various projects focusing on creating safe and quality food for people across the region. She currently works for IKEA Vietnam with the role of Business Developer leading the company’s sustainable and affordable food supply chain development in Australia and Southeast Asia. Additionally, Thu started her own kefir business in 2019.

Thu’s advice for future students who are still in doubt why to choose a degree in food systems or agriculture is clear: “choose a job not because you (or your parent think) that it can bring you high salary or can surely secure you a job after graduation. The world is changing so fast that nothing is certain. And if you find your passion in food, in plants, in fishery, in forestry… go for it. After years working in these fields, I realize sometimes youngsters don’t choose Food or Agriculture because they think these jobs are not fashion/interesting enough. But trust us, working in Food and Agriculture can be so cool. You can work in food, agriculture and travel the world as the same time.  The opportunities are endless”.

One of the goals of the Empower Youth4Food campaign is to improve the reputation of agricultural education among the young generation in Vietnam by showcasing examples like Tommy and Thu, and highlighting the various opportunities in this industry. “With Vietnam playing a significant role in the global food export and clean energy production, it’s crucial to provide practical knowledge and engaging activities to encourage the next generation in Vietnam to further explore and pursue careers these vital industries,” Tommy underscores. As an active EY4F Youth Ambassador he makes an important contribution in advocating these goals and inspiring his peers.

On this International Day of Education, let’s acknowledge the important role of agricultural education in sustaining our nutrition needs and paving the way for a sustainable future. By promoting and investing in agricultural education, we can empower the next generation to tackle the challenges related to food security and climate change with innovation and care.