The World Food Forum

In 2025, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marks its 80th anniversary, the World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) joins the global call to walk hand in hand towards a better food future, one rooted in solidarity, innovation and purpose.

This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, is a celebration of partnerships and a commitment to act. It unites youth, farmers, researchers, policymakers, investors and communities across generations to transform our agrifood systems through the shared vision of the four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

In 2025, the WFF Youth Initiative invites you to be part of a growing global movement. Whether you are designing agri-tech solutions, preserving traditional knowledge, rethinking food education or advocating for meaningful youth engagement in policy spaces - your voice matters. Your action counts.

Together, hand in hand, we can cultivate better agrifood systems and a better future for everyone.

Meet the 2025 YFL cohort

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Good Food for All, for Today and Tomorrow

Based on the 2024 theme of the World Food Forum, this Award aims to identify and support global startups that are developing innovative, technology-based solutions to sustainably address food insecurity and access to healthy diets (including, but not limited to: sustainable production of livestock, fisheries and crops; responsible management of forests, wetlands, soil and water; and scaling up clean energy for sustainable agrifood systems transformation).

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Driving Innovation in Agrifood Sytems Award
Food Loss

This Award aims to recognize startups that are developing innovative technological solutions to help reduce food loss within global agrifood systems, focusing on single or multiple interventions within agrifood supply chains, from post-harvest to throughout the supply chains up to the retail stage.

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Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition Award
Empowering Women in Agrifood Systems

This Award aims to recognize startups that are most impactfully increasing access of women to land, inputs, services, finance and digital technology to drive positive agrifood systems transformation, particularly in the Global South.

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Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security Award
Digital Innovation in Food Processing

This Award aims to recognize and elevate startups that are leaders in digital and/or data solutions, which tackle and propose innovations in the following areas in the food processing industry: improved efficiency, higher quality, sustainable production and products, food safety and improving labor conditions.

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World Food Forum 2024 flagship event
powered by global youth

News

WFF Youth Initiative welcomes the fourth cohort of the Youth Policy Board
30/06/2025

In May 2025, the World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) officially welcomed the fourth cohort of its Youth Policy...

Meet the Youth Policy Board Selection Committee
30/06/2025

In December 2024, the World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) launched its annual application call for young leaders...

Planting hope in the time of crises: Youth reclaim the future of food
27/06/2025

The World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) is pleased to share a reflection by Youth Policy Board (YPB) member Elif...

Intergenerational policy dialogue on empowering young women in agrifood systems
26/06/2025

The World Food Forum (WFF)'s Youth Assembly is extending an invitation for youth worldwide, interested in gender equality and women's empowerment, to...

Rural youth transform agrifood systems
Rural youth transform agrifood systems
25/06/2025

What are the challenges that rural youth in Europe and Central Asia face today?

WFF Youth Initiative film screening highlights the role of culture in agrifood systems transformation
23/06/2025

On 4 June 2025, the World Food Forum (WFF)’s Global Youth Action Initiative, in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of Italy to the United...

 

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