The author speaking at the YEA2026 conference in Kota Kinabalu.
AT a youth conference devoted to artificial intelligence, some of my most useful teaching assistants were decidedly old-fashioned: Cupid, Shakespeare and a schoolboy’s pencil. None held a computer science degree, yet all had something to teach about oil palm.
At the inaugural International Conference on Youth Economy and Advocacy 2026 (YEA 2026), my contribution explored agriculture’s opportunities for young people. Part 1 traced oil palm from its African origins and remarkable productivity to Sabah’s industry, everyday products and emerging technologies.
But knowing why an industry matters does not guarantee that people will find it interesting. Facts inform, statistics impress, and a procession of acronyms can occasionally put an audience to sleep. The harder question is how to turn understanding into curiosity and, eventually, action.
