5. Louise Emmanuelle Mabulo
The 21-year-old Louise Emmanuelle Mabulo has been acknowledged for her breakthroughs in the agriculture industry.
Through The Cacao Project, Mabulo teaches farmers how to sustainably produce and grow climate-resilient cacao that can withstand floods, winds, and typhoons. The project started in 2016 after the onslaught of Typhoon Nina hit her hometown in Bicol City. Now, as the project moves toward sustainable farming, it has also greatly provided farmers with a stable source of livelihood.
According to F&B Report, 200 farmers were able to plant 80,000 cacao trees along with other crops while maintaining stable harvests and soil fertility. This has been a valuable factor in reforestation efforts and has helped with the revival of two water sources in the barren lands of Camarines Sur.
In 2019, the social entrepreneur was honored as Young Champion of the Earth, one of the most prestigious awards for young environmentalists, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Furthermore, Mabulo is also an ambassador of Operation Smiles Philippines, Breville Philippines, and the Department of Tourism’s Flavours of the Philippines.
