Cultivating youth-led Innovation in the Latin America and the Caribbean region

The World Food Forum (WFF) is proud to announce the launch of the Youth Food Lab program at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC). This initiative in partnership with Wageningen University and Research and IAAS  recognizes the importance of empowering youth-led innovation at the regional level.

Following the success of the first Youth Food Lab cohort in 2023, this year it launched the workshop "Designing New Solutions for Agrifood Challenges", initiative led by RLC in partnership with Universidad Mayor from Chile, co-designed under the framework of the global Youth Food Lab. The workshop modules cover different topics such as Design Thinking and Business Model Canvas through six online sessions. Its launch took place on 12 June, featuring participation from FAO Campus and the Rural Youth Area of RLC Office, The Youth Food Lab, and Universidad Mayor.

This workshop offers young people in the RLC region the opportunity to learn how to transform their ideas into actionable plans, equipping them with the necessary tools to develop innovative solutions within their communities. It is tailored for rural, indigenous and Afro-descendant young innovators, aged 18 to 35, who are committed to promoting sustainable and inclusive development in their areas. The program includes 45 participants from 14 countries across the region, including Colombia, Honduras, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Uruguay, El Salvador and Argentina.

Speakers at the launch emphasized the significance of the workshop and its objectives. Luiz Beduschi, FAO Senior Policy Officer for Territorial Development for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized the importance of the workshop for ensuring the full inclusion of young people, stating that "Investing in the education and training of rural youth is increasingly important as the challenges associated with the sustainability of agrifood systems grow."

Joao Ricardo Morais, Youth Food Lab representative from WFF, reiterated the commitment to transforming youth ideas into concrete actions, saying, "We will support young innovators in Latin America to turn ideas into impact, fostering collaborative and people-oriented solutions."

Ismael Ríos, Director of the D-School at Universidad Mayor, highlighted the collaborative effort with FAO, noting, "This initiative allows us to advance and increase these types of activities. Through our expertise in innovation, we showcase the impact of Design Thinking, the significant progress achieved through its proposed solutions, and most importantly, the development of entrepreneurial spirits."

The workshop stands as the result of collaborative efforts to empower young innovators and address the pressing challenges of our agrifood systems through sustainable and inclusive development for a better food future.