About the Youth Food Lab
The Youth Food Lab (YFL) programme, launched in 2023 by the World Food Forum (WFF), Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and the International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences (IAAS), is a space and a platform for young innovators to develop their innovative ideas into transformative projects that work towards ending hunger and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through capacity development, mentorship, and connections to a powerful network, the YFL supports young innovators to bring their proposals to reality, helping them access the right tools and networks to move from idea to impact and scale the solutions they are developing.
Do you want to establish a local Youth Food Lab in your country or connect with an existing one?
Objectives and goals
The YFL empowers young innovators from all backgrounds to develop and scale sustainable solutions that transform agrifood systems into resilient, inclusive and future-ready business models.
Through capacity development, hands-on support, mentorship, networking and matchmaking with investors, the YFL supports disruptive innovations so they may reach their full potential and drive the change we need to achieve a better food future.
Four reasons to join the Youth Food Lab
Capacity Development
Mentorship
Networking
Visibility
Capacity Development
Participants will receive training to better understand the agrifood systems value chain and to support the ideation, development and scaling of solutions and projects. In addition, participants will receive pitch and presentation training to present their project during the World Food Forum flagship event, gaining visibility and reaching a large global audience.
Mentorship
Participants will receive mentorship and hands-on support from experts in the field to turn their ideas into sustainable business models.
Networking
Participants of all Incubator phases will be able to join the WFF Innovation Network, a community of practice among participants, mentors, partners, funders and other global leaders and organizations. The network will provide long-term support, training, connections, learning experiences, intergenerational mentoring, exchange and opportunities.
Visibility
Participants reach a large global audience through our social media and digital platforms, as well as the WFF flagship event.
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Meet the 2025 Cohort
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Meet the 2025 Mentors
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Meet the 2025 Facilitators
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News
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