In a bid to empower the next generation of agricultural leaders, Okada Manila has partnered for the first time with School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED Philippines), the education arm of Gawad Kalinga, to support the education of aspiring youth farmers.
The collaboration underscores Okada’s broader commitment to sustainable nation-building through education, community upliftment, and agricultural development.
“This partnership is a reflection of our mission as a company that has been given the privilege to operate in the Philippines. We want to give something back. And we believe education, especially in agriculture, holds the key to a better future for many Filipinos,” said Okada Manila managing director Kenji Sugiyama in a symbolic ceremony in GK Village in Hugo Perez, Trece Martirez City in Cavite.
The initiative, under Okada’s Green Heart sustainability program, falls specifically under its “Talent and Community” pillar.
Backing Agricultural Education with Funding and Dedication
Through a P500,000 donation, Okada Manila is co-funding the three-month training of 30 scholars at the SEED campus in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.
The program includes tuition, board and lodging, and a supervised on-the-job training (OJT) component.
Sugiyama, who hails from the rural region of Hokkaido in Japan, said he was deeply moved by the mission of SEED and how it resonates with his personal experiences.
“When I was a small boy, my neighbors were mostly elderly farmers. They would come by and give us vegetables from their farms. Even if we didn’t have much, those simple gifts meant a lot to our family. It left a deep impression on me,” he recalled.
That early exposure to farming planted a seed of appreciation that would later influence his belief in agriculture as a means to escape poverty.
“We are facing challenges not only here in the Philippines, but also in Japan. Food prices are rising, and productivity is falling. That’s why I believe investing in agricultural education is not just timely, it’s necessary,” Sugiyama said.
The partnership with SEED Philippines marks Okada’s first foray into agricultural initiatives, although it has previously supported various educational programs. Sugiyama said the company is committed to making this partnership long-term.
“Donations cannot be one-time gestures. For them to have meaning, they must be continuous. That’s how real change happens,” he added.
Community-Based Curriculum
Established in 2014, SEED Philippines aims to produce agripreneurs and rural development leaders who can transform idle lands into productive, sustainable farms.
According to SEED director Mark Lawrence Cruz, the institution has already trained over 800 youth through its campuses in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“Our vision is to have at least one SEED campus in every region of the Philippines. We’ve built six campuses so far, including in Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Bacolod, Leyte, Bukidnon, and Davao City. But we want to go further, because food is needed everywhere, every year,” he said.
SEED is espousing a curriculum based on TESDA standards, but one that goes beyond basic technical training. TESDA plus, as it is called, includes organic agricultural production, agro-entrepreneurship, communication, community organizing, and the fundamentals of building a livelihood from agriculture.
“We train by community, not individuals. We believe that to lift a person out of poverty, you need the strength of the entire community. That’s why our selection process is stringent, we go into the communities, talk to the parents and youth, and prepare them for the commitment,” Cruz shared.
The focus of the training is on basic food crops, those used in everyday Filipino dishes like sinigang and pakbet. “We start with the essentials―pechay, kangkong, eggplant, tomato. Then we introduce high-value crops like lettuce, which is very profitable,” Cruz noted.
According to SEED’s graduate tracking, 82 percent of alumni are productively engaged after training whether in agriculture, entrepreneurship, teaching, or further education. With so much land in the country still lying vacant, equipping young people with the skills to turn these areas into productive farms offers not only a sustainable livelihood but also a meaningful way to contribute to national development.
Aligning Visions for Sustainable Development and Future Expansion
This vision is aligned with Okada Manila’s broader sustainability framework, which includes six pillars under its Green Heart initiative. These pillars guide the company’s programs on environment, education, livelihood, safety, health, and community engagement.
“Helping young people see agriculture not just as a necessity but as a viable career path is a powerful way to fight poverty,” Sugiyama emphasized. “It also helps ensure food security, which is a growing concern everywhere, not just here in the Philippines.”
Sugiyama said the company is open to expanding its partnership with SEED as it positions itself as a partner in national development, helping young Filipinos turn dreams into opportunities.