Page 77 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

TAN YUNG - EN JOASH 75

TAN YUNG- You are currently pursuing
studies in agricultural
EN JOASH studies in the USA. Why did

SHARES WHY you choose to take up this
discipline of study?
HE CHOSE SFA I have always had a keen interest in nature

AND HIS FUTURE since I was young. I would spend my
weekends digging in pots that were along
ASPIRATIONS FOR the corridor outside my grandparent’s
house. As I grew older, I also started to
THE AGRICULTURE involve myself in the local farming industry
by working or volunteering at various farms
INDUSTRY IN and visiting farms in my leisure time. These SFA Undergraduate Scholarship
experiences, as well as the encouragement
Tan Yung-En Joash
SINGAPORE. from my family, have spurred me to pursue Age
my interest in agriculture.
22
With SFA’s formation under the MEWR Share with us how you see
Family with effect from 1 April 2019, SFA has yourself contributing to SFA’s Now
joined NEA and PUB in offering the National Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems at
Environment & Water (NEW) Scholarship. work when you return from University of California, Davis, USA
your studies.
What sparked your interest I hope to contribute towards SFA’s work and From
Raffl es Institution
in applying to SFA for the the growth of agriculture in Singapore with
Undergraduate Scholarship? the knowledge and skills gained from my
studies. This includes building a vibrant food
SFA covers a broad scope in the food sphere, industry by promoting local produce and
from food production to food businesses. encouraging more consumers to choose local.
The broad-based nature of SFA’s work and
our food industry drew me to apply for Changing consumer preferences have led to
this scholarship as it enables me to gain a shift in diet towards nutritious food such
an understanding of a variety of domains. as kale and blueberries, which are usually
In addition, the fl exibility and nature of imported and may not be widely available
the scholarship offer me the opportunity to everyone. However, with technology
to explore and further my education in and R&D, some of these crops have been
agriculture, an area that I am interested in. successfully cultivated in our local farms.
Moreover, the shorter transport duration
What do you think makes this allows these products to arrive fresh at our
Scholarship stand out from the markets. Hence, the consumption of local
produce is a goal that I would like to continue
others? to champion and strive towards, as it also
A distinguishing factor of the scholarship helps in enhancing our food security.
would be that it caters to diverse areas
of interest, from agricultural sciences to What’s your advice for
food technology. It is possible to obtain a aspiring students looking
scholarship to pursue an education that is
in tandem with one’s interests and equips to pursue a scholarship and
him or her with the technical knowledge and career with SFA?
skills to contribute to SFA’s work. Seize every opportunity that is given to you!
Do not be daunted by the perception that
This scholarship provides me with a global a scholarship is defi ned by grades alone –
perspective on issues, such as international what is more important is the passion and
trade in agriculture, which is a key component ability to translate technical knowledge into
in our globalised world. For example, learning practice to help our local farmers and food
about food broadens my understanding of industry grow.
other social, political and environmental
issues. To learn about food is to learn about
our world, which places one in good stead in
our increasingly globalised world.