Home from school: University graduates become technology leaders in their smallholder communities

Every year, thousands of young Latin Americans leave their smallholder households to attend university, yet some aspire to return as technology leaders. To understand this overlooked segment of youth, we analyzed data from 3670 applicants to Ayllu AgTech, an FAO training program, including 67 autobiographical videos and 15 in-depth interviews. Our findings reveal that these youth remain rooted in their places of origin. Their farming experience and technical training equip them to combine scientific and local knowledge to address rural challenges like food insecurity and climate change. While some graduates do return to their home villages, others act as change agents from a nearby provincial city. Each young professional devises their own way to balance social service with professional growth. However, this group faces systemic barriers—a lack of capital, weak institutional support, and scarce job opportunities. We call for a rethinking of rural youth policy: just as governments support the return of internationally trained talent, they should invest in the development of educated youths as technology leaders for smallholder communities. This is an overlooked development strategy hiding in plain sight.