Key objectives

1. Establish and consolidate a strong, active and intercultural youth network that facilitates knowledge exchange and practical application to enhance food security in Ecuador.
2. Serve as a national reference platform that provides capacity development, technical assistance, guidance and resources, strengthening the Chapter’s network of collaborators and amplifying the impact of food security initiatives.
3. Act as a coordinating and convening mechanism among civil society organizations, government institutions, international partners and the private sector to align and mobilize high-impact efforts in addressing national agrifood systems challenges.
4. Advocate for and support public policy reforms that promote sustainable development, social responsibility and equitable representation in agrifood systems transformation.
5. Promote meaningful youth participation in local and regional projects that contribute to food security, community development and youth leadership across the country.
6. Foster strategic partnerships with academic institutions to support inter-institutional collaboration, enabling the exchange and application of knowledge with diverse communities, while promoting intercultural dialogue and the integration of scientific and traditional knowledge systems.

Initiatives

The Chapter implements a range of youth-led national initiatives aimed at strengthening agrifood systems. These initiatives contribute to national priorities and where applicable, align with  programmes supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and thematic areas in the country.

1. Youth capacity development in food and climate resilience

This programme focuses on strengthening youth leadership and technical capacities to address interconnected food security and climate challenges through knowledge exchange, advocacy and participatory dialogue. It is being implemented through the:

• Youth forum on food and climate resilience: A national platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration among young leaders, practitioners and stakeholders committed to resilient agrifood systems.
• National youth agenda for food and climate activism: A strategic framework co-developed by youth to guide advocacy efforts and coordinated action on agrifood systems and climate resilience at the national level.

2. Research and development for sustainable agriculture

This programme promotes evidence-based approaches and innovation to advance sustainable agricultural practices through inclusive and participatory research methodologies.

• Participatory research in sustainable agriculture: Collaborative research initiatives engaging youth, local communities and technical partners to generate and apply context-specific knowledge that supports sustainable food production systems.

3. Territorial engagement and partnerships

This programme aims to strengthen territorial linkages and multi-actor collaboration across Ecuador’s diverse regions to enhance coordination within agrifood systems.

• Agrifood Collaboration Network: A national network designed to connect producers, youth organizations, institutions and partners to facilitate cooperation, knowledge sharing and collective action in support of food security and sustainable development.

4. Arts and culture for the promotion of food diversity

This programme leverages arts and cultural expression as tools to raise awareness, celebrate food diversity and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

• Gastronomic and sustainable agriculture expo: A public-facing event showcasing Ecuador’s food heritage, sustainable production practices and youth-led initiatives within agrifood systems.
• Arts and sustainable agriculture festival: A multidisciplinary cultural event integrating art, education and community engagement to foster appreciation for food diversity and sustainability.

Success stories

Youth Fair for food security

Held on 17 August 2024 in Quito, this event marked the first fair organized directly by the Chapter. It brought together more than 70 participants, including young entrepreneurs, representatives of partner organizations and public institutions. Youth-led initiatives and bio-enterprises focused on sustainability were showcased. In addition, a workshop with public authorities addressed national agrifood challenges, while a cooking session using rescued produce promoted food recovery practices. The fair laid the foundations for a sustained line of work focused on the visibility, strengthening and connection of youth initiatives linked to food security.

Youth Meetings on Food and Climate Resilience

Youth engagement on food and climate resilience gained early momentum through meetings convened ahead of the Chapter’s formal establishment in 2024. This work continued with the second Youth Meeting on Food and Climate Resilience, held in October 2024 in Riobamba with support from the FAO Country Office in Ecuador and the WFF Youth Initiative.  Over two days, more than 200 young people from across the country engaged in training, dialogue and experience sharing, addressing food loss and waste and climate change from youth-led, territorial and multi-sectoral perspectives. The meeting strengthened the Chapter’s national youth network, fostered new institutional partnerships and produced a collective roadmap to advance local actions for resilient agrifood systems. Building on this momentum, the Chapter continued its convening role in 2025 through two national meetings.

In October 2025, the third meeting expanded participation to include youth alongside key stakeholders working on food loss and waste, including government institutions, food banks, market authorities and civil society. The meeting strengthened the national evidence base on food loss and waste, consolidated a multisectoral platform and advanced a coordinated proposal for reform of Ecuador’s Law on Food Loss and Waste.

National Youth Agenda for Food and Climate Activism

In 2024, the Chapter developed the National Youth Agenda for Food and Climate Activism through a participatory process involving youth, social organizations and local governments from across the country. The agenda was consolidated as a strategic roadmap to guide youth action on sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. Following its launch, it strengthened territorial work, fostered collaborative networks and supported the development of pilot initiatives aligned with the thematic axes defined in the document, namely:

• National Plan for the reduction of food loss and waste
• Incentive system for organic producers
• Pilot schools for waste management
• Rural–urban exchange programmes
• National youth climate change observatory
• National programme of fairs for young producers
• Volunteer programme for food and climate resilience

Proposal for the reform of the food loss and waste law

In 2024, the led the participatory development of a technical document containing proposals for the reform of the Law to Prevent and Reduce Food Loss and Waste in Ecuador. With the institutional engagement of the FAO Country Office in Ecuador, WWF Ecuador and Rikolto, the process mobilized technical and financial support to strengthen the proposal and its validation process. The document was presented to key stakeholders, including representatives of the National Assembly, ministries, municipalities and international organizations. This initiative positioned the Chapter as a reference for youth engagement in food-related public policy advocacy and set a precedent for youth participation in key legislative processes. 

Collaborations

The Chapter has actively collaborated with key organizations to amplify its impact. Notable collaborations include:

• FAO Country Office in Ecuador
• WWF Ecuador
• Rikolto
• Fundación Imaymana
• TRIAS
• Fundación Conexión Planeta Ec.
• Fundación Nueva Democracia
• Elysia Tech
• IAAS Ecuador

Social media

For more information or to get involved, you can also connect with the Chapter through their social media channels: