International agricultural experiences can shape the culture and impact of agriculture's "Next-Gen" professionals

Facilitating opportunities for undergraduate students to be immersed in remote, developing communities helps develop a better understanding of the differences between Australian and international agricultural systems. Traveling to central Sulawesi in Indonesia with the aid of the New Columbo Plan Scholarship in 2023 provided an opportunity to study local agricultural and forestry conservation practices. This facilitated an understanding of the importance of appropriate allocation of agricultural resources, environmental conservation, the impact of natural disasters and their effect on agricultural trade and economics, and how social, political, and cultural views can alter consumer perspectives. It also highlighted the differences in social capital between our countries and how this impacts the ability of producers to adopt innovation. With an ever-growing population, it is crucial that the next generation of agriculturists utilise these opportunities to develop our understanding of how global agricultural production coalesces, and the opportunities and challenges that producers face.