As the nationprepares to commemorate Rizal Day on Dec. 30, the Philippine Rice ResearchInstitute (PhilRice) draws inspiration from the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, “Theyouth is the hope of our future,” by empowering the youth to take an activerole in agriculture and leadership through its BeRICEponsible Leadership Camp.Recentlypilot-tested at the RICEsParK in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, thecamp aims to mold “RICEponsible” leaders who are mindful of farmers’ struggles,understand the significance of rice, and are equipped with leadership skillsand values needed to impact the country’s rice sector.In itsinitial run, the camp trained 30 high school student leaders to exploreleadership and agriculture. Themed “sParKing Future Rice Leaders,” the campemphasized the importance of youth involvement in securing the nation’s foodsystems.Throughhands-on activities and expert-led sessions, participants deepened theirappreciation for rice farming and honed their leadership skills. “This programnot only deepened my appreciation for rice farmers but also taught me how to bean effective leader—skills I can use as a future educator,” said Tristan P.Collantes, a senior high school student from Muñoz National High School-Main.The camp’sRice and Shine module provided insights into rice production, while leadershipsessions led by Dr. Stachys Neil E. Espino, governor-elect of the KiwanisInternational Philippine Luzon District, emphasized essential traits ofeffective leadership. Espinointroduced the “seven sides of leadership,” supplemented withpersonal insights to encourage adaptability and resilience.Participantsalso explored innovations at the FutureRice Farm, including the Minus-One-Element Technique (MOET) for soil nutrient management and modern farm machinerydemonstrations. For AllysaCrisha Acosta, a Grade 10 student from Gabaldon Integrated School and afarmer’s daughter, the experience was educational and personal. “I wasexcited to try MOET and see how machines can make farming more efficient,” shesaid.Theleadership camp, organized by PhilRice in collaboration with KiwanisInternational, underscored the critical role of empowering youth to tackle thechallenges in agriculture.“Shapingfuture leaders is crucial for the country’s food security. Through programslike this, we aim to create a lasting impact and inspire the next generation ofagriculture champions,” said Dr. Diadem B. Gonzales-Esmero, RiceBIS programlead. PhilRiceplans to make the BeRICEponsible Leadership Camp a regular program as theagriculture sector seeks to attract younger, more innovative minds to securethe country’s food systems in the face of rising global challenges.