Agriculture student represents VSU in Asian program on sustainable agriculture

#ProudViscan Sean Jade Nicole Picorro-Lejas traded his summer break for days under the Northern Samar sun, representing Visayas State University in a prestigious international academic and cultural exchange on agriculture.

The fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student majoring in Plant Protection, with a specialization in Plant Pathology, was VSU’s official delegate to the 2025 Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) of the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU). 

The two-week event, held from July 14–27 and hosted by the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), gathered student delegates from across Asia and the Philippines for intensive discussions and hands-on learning on sustainable farming, agribusiness, and green entrepreneurship.

For Sean, the program reshaped how he sees his chosen field.

“I gained not only technical knowledge but a deeper, more personal understanding of what it truly means to work in agriculture,” he said. 

His schedule was filled with lectures on food systems, product development workshops using local materials, and visits to research farms and community projects. 

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The delegates explored Northern Samar’s heritage sites, met local farmers, and learned indigenous farming practices alongside modern approaches. The experience blended science with culture and showed how sustainable practices are rooted in both innovation and tradition.

Sean credited the people who helped his join the program.

“Huge thank you to FAFS Dean Dr. Suzette B. Lina for securing the opportunity, Dr. Joel Rey Acob for helping with the funding; and the FAFS Supreme Student Council, led by Stephen Piquero, for providing financial support”, he shared. 

He also expressed gratitude to the hosts and mentors at AAACU and UEP, Dr. Filma A. Calalo, Dr. Amado Angeles, UEP President Cherry I. Ultra, and Prof. Romero Brenfred Nalazon, for guiding the delegates through the academic and cultural parts of the exchange.

His participation proves that VSU’s standing as a university can make its students contribute meaningfully in international fora on agriculture and food security. Through programs like AAACU-SEP, Viscan students are showing that they can compete and collaborate with peers across Asia while bringing fresh perspectives shaped by their roots in the Philippines.

“I’m going back to VSU with a renewed drive to keep learning and to be part of the solutions for a more food-secure and sustainable Philippines,” Sean said.

While his time in Northern Samar lasted only two weeks, the experiences, friendships, and knowledge he brought home are expected to ripple through his studies and future work and proved that global conversations on agriculture can start with one student in the fields of VSU.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13: Climate Action, and; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

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