Empowering young voices: Young reporters shine at the World Food Forum flagship event

At the 2024 World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event, a group of talented young students stepped into the spotlight as the WFF Young Reporters. Building on last year’s success, this project brought together a team of 16- to 18-year-olds to explore and share stories on agrifood systems, highlighting the challenges and opportunities shaping the future. Through guidance and hands-on training, these young reporters played a vital role in amplifying youth perspectives on agrifood systems transformation.

"Young people are taking on critical roles within the United Nations, particularly in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where they are not merely observers but innovators actively shaping sustainable food solutions. Recognizing that youth bring fresh perspectives and technological skills, FAO has introduced initiatives to engage young leaders in tackling global food system challenges", noted Luca Peana, one of the young reporters.

Guided by their mission to inform and inspire, the young reporters immersed themselves in understanding the work of FAO, the WFF’s initiatives and the pivotal role youth play in driving sustainable change. Through a series of interviews and conversations, they engaged with senior management at FAO, country representatives, WFF competition winners, content creators and the WFF programme leads.

With insightful questions in hand, the young reporters conducted interviews that not only shed light on the challenges facing global agrifood systems but also allowed them to connect with individuals leading impactful work. These encounters allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the diversity of perspectives at the WFF.

“As a young reporter, I had the unique possibility to interview several FAO members involved in the WFF”, said Andrea Forti. “Among them, my first interview with Edward Bogart, the WFF Deputy Coordinator, was particularly exciting. He shared how FAO and the UN as a whole, are promoting the World Food Forum globally at regional and local levels. I was impressed by the large amount of youth involvement in this international project and the pivotal role they are assigned”.

Through their coverage, the WFF young reporters brought fresh and engaging perspectives, capturing the dynamic energy of the WFF flagship event. By sharing the stories of change-makers across generations, they not only gained valuable experience in journalism but also became advocates of change that will drive the future of agrifood systems.  “Being part of the Young Reporters project at WFF has been a transformative experience”, reflected Emanuele Falzone. “The talks on sustainable farming, food security and new technology gave me hope for the future. I left feeling excited and motivated to be part of creating fairer and more sustainable agrifood systems”.

The WFF Education Programme’s Young Reporters project embodies the spirit of the World Food Forum: empowering youth, fostering knowledge exchange and inspiring action toward a sustainable and equitable world. This new generation of storytellers is ready to continue the dialogue, carry forward the insights and champion the critical conversations surrounding food security, sustainability and youth-led innovation. “After staying at the flagship event, even if only for a day, I could feel the passion, interest and motivation of the people around me”, said Emma Pasquadibisceglie. “I am extremely grateful to experience something so powerful and memorable”.

Don’t miss out the Young Reporters’ experiences captured in our YouTube playlist. Follow along to see their reports.