Rural youth build the future: agricultural science interns gain their first work experience thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and AGROSAVIA

• Strengthening generational renewal in the Colombian countryside and providing real opportunities for training, employment, and local attachment for young people.

• The inclusion of students from agricultural-related programs in projects of national impact represents a significant step.

• Karol Andrea Oyola Pérez, from the Agronomic Engineering program at Universidad de Córdoba, successfully completed her internship and received a meritorious degree.

• The experience of the interns linked to AGROSAVIA within the National Strategy for Rural Youth is tangible proof that generational renewal is possible when real learning opportunities are offered.

 

Montería, Córdoba. November 28, 2025. Within the framework of the National Strategy for Rural Youth, Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria – AGROSAVIA, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is advancing the implementation of an initiative transforming how new generations engage with the agricultural sector. The purpose is clear: to strengthen generational renewal in rural Colombia and to provide real opportunities for training, employment, and local attachment for young people who, with knowledge and vocation, wish to contribute to the country's sustainable rural development.

Through this project, carried out in 50 Rural Educational Institutions (IER) across different regions of Colombia, the participation of rural youth in productive pedagogical projects focused on innovation, education, and agro-environmental entrepreneurship is promoted. One of the most notable components of this strategy is the incorporation of interns from technical, technological, and university-level programs, who gain their first work experience in an applied research and rural development setting.

 

The first job, as a starting point

For many young people in rural areas, obtaining their first job opportunity related to their field of study has been a historic challenge. Therefore, the inclusion of students from agricultural programs in projects of national impact represents a transcendental step. In the case of the Turipaná Research Center, located in the department of Córdoba, the experience materialized through the participation of two interns, among them, university student Karol Andrea Oyola Pérez from the Agronomic Engineering program at Universidad de Córdoba, who successfully completed her internship. She defended her thesis with excellence, earning a meritorious degree, demonstrating not only her commitment to agricultural research but also the enormous potential of Colombian rural youth.

"This experience allowed me to apply the knowledge acquired throughout my training and to understand the importance of fieldwork, innovation, and technical support in rural communities. It is an invaluable opportunity that marks the beginning of my professional life," said Karol Oyola after her thesis approval.

María del Valle Rodríguez Pinto, master researcher and territorial leader of Rural Youth and also internship tutor, states that "every young person and future colleague who arrives at our facilities not only learns agricultural techniques but also understands the value of knowledge to transform the territory. These types of experiences are seeds that will germinate into rural enterprises, productive associations, and new local and regional leadership."

The National Coordinator of the Rural Youth Strategy, Researcher Pablo Fernando Ramos, stated that "the entry of young interns into the agricultural research ecosystem is a strategic commitment. It represents the first step in training a new generation of rural professionals with scientific foundations, rural values, and a strong sense of belonging. These young people are the face of the generational renewal the country needs."

The experience of the interns linked to AGROSAVIA within the National Strategy for Rural Youth is tangible evidence that generational renewal is possible when real opportunities for learning, employment, and personal development are provided. Initiatives like this are an example of the Colombian State's institutional commitment to rural youth, agricultural innovation, and the country's sustainable future. The story of Karol and the other young interns is the story of a generation that, with effort and hope, is transforming the countryside from within. Their time at AGROSAVIA marks the beginning of a promising professional path and reaffirms that knowledge, passion, and agricultural vocation are the foundations for Colombia's rural development.