From farm to progress: Xiao Jingxin's efforts for SDGs

Editor’s note

Tsinghua University plays an active role in promoting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by nurturing innovative talents, enhancing research, among many other important ways.

This piece will feature Tsinghua student Xiao Jingxin's efforts in promoting the SDGs and accelerating the transition to sustainable agriculture.

Xiao Jingxin, a 2017 graduate from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, was employed as a project operations intern at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in China from June 2021 to May 2022. She primarily facilitated domestic technical project operations, conducted research on food security and nutrition, and supported coordinating meetings and providing translation services. She has also worked as an early career trainee at the World Economic Forum (WEF), assisting in nature-positive solutions and driving China's transition towards a nature-positive (climate-neutral) transformation and later in the Change, Delivery, and Innovation (CDI) unit of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Jingxin at IFAD

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Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Jingxin has been committed to promoting the SDGs through her three internship experiences at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Economic Forum (WEF), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

As an advocate for sustainable development, Jingxin embarked on a journey of professional growth at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialized agency of the UN that aims to achieve food security for all and ensure sustainable agriculture and rural development. Taking on the role of a project operations intern, she actively dived into supporting domestic technical cooperation projects and the Global Environment Facility initiatives.

Jingxin at the “Orange the World” 

gender equity campaign

With an unwavering commitment to her responsibilities, Jingxin was entrusted with the task of conducting research, publishing newsletters, and facilitating sustainable development and circular economy projects in China. Amidst the challenges of land resource scarcity, pollution, and pest control, Jingxin collaborated with colleagues at various government levels to map out strategies to eliminate those problems which became a beacon of change.

Jingxin also joined World Economic Forum (WEF) as an early career trainee in Nature-based Solutions. Here, she found herself at the forefront of advancing nature-positive solutions and driving China's transformation towards a nature-positive and climate-neutral trajectory. Jingxin immersed herself in unraveling the intricate dynamics of global supply chain research and examining the procurement standards of large corporations.

Jingxin’s columns on WEF official website

Jingxin’s dedication to driving global sustainability extended beyond her internships, as she actively participated in key events such as the New Champion Dialogues and the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. These opportunities allowed her to better understand international discussions and engage with experts and stakeholders in biodiversity conservation. Through these invaluable experiences, she realized that their contributions were instrumental in promoting nature-positive practices across sectors, despite the competing demands of food and water security and renewable energy development.

“Balancing the need for food and water security with the development of renewable energy infrastructure presented significant challenges and competing priorities,” Jingxin said as she reflected on the insights acquired throughout this journey.

Jingxin at IFAD Innovation Day

Jingxin’s internship in the Change, Delivery, and Innovation (CDI) unit of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) also provided her with a dynamic and enriching experience. Focusing on institutional reform and cultural transformation, particularly in strategy and innovation, Jingxin’s team contributed to the development of innovative methodologies, fostering an internal culture of innovation through activities such as operating an innovation lab, organizing talks, and networking events, and establishing a platform for knowledge sharing. Externally, they engaged in innovation challenges aimed at nurturing ideas into tangible products or field projects benefiting rural communities and smallholder farmers.

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Personal Growth and Social Contribution

When joining a new sector, Jingxin swiftly adapted herself to diverse working environments and embraced steep learning curves. Initially, she even struggled to understand the numerous abbreviations used in UN documents, but she quickly became capable of comprehending and drafting reports independently. She learned how different organizations engaged in complex and large-scale projects and gained exposure to high-level projects, cooperating with other UN officials.

Jingxin at Innovation talk

“I had the chance to visit our project sites in the field, which gave me a sense of accomplishment and a better understanding of the impact that IO’s work was making on the ground,” she said.

These internships also offered Jingxin invaluable insights into the political and complex nature of international organizations. She observed China's growing prominence and active engagement in global institutions by supporting projects that promote sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and nature-positive transformations, aligning with SDGs, from Life on Land to Climate Action and Zero Hunger. This inspiring discovery kindled her passion for fostering sustainable practices and promoting positive change on both national and global scales in the future.

Read more about THU

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Meet Tsinghua volunteers who look forward to biodiversity

Xu Jiaxin: Environmental protection is not a stupid tax

TsinghuaRen | From farm to progress: Xiao Jingxin's efforts for SDGs

Writer: Huang Ruihan

Editors: Huang Fei, Gillian Tang

Reviewers: Xu Liang, Lin Yuan

Designer: Huang Ruihan