WFF at CFS 52: Inclusive youth engagement and empowerment for agrifood systems transformation

As part of the 52nd session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the World Food Forum (WFF)’s Global Youth Action hosted a hybrid side event titled "Good food for all, for today and tomorrow – Inclusive youth engagement and empowerment for agrifood systems transformation" on 23 October at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. Moderated by Victor Muiru, Head of Local Youth Action at the WFF, the session highlighted the critical role of youth in driving agrifood systems transformation, exploring how young people can drive meaningful change in global food security, and connecting the impactful results of the 2024 WFF flagship event to the work of the CFS.

The session opened with remarks from Hon. Gerald Geoffrey Mweli, Tanzania's Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, who presented an overview of Tanzania's youth-focused initiatives. He shared insights into the "Building a better tomorrow" project that aims to integrate youth into the agricultural sector by addressing core challenges like financial access, modern technology and appealing career prospects. Through initiatives like a digital platform that connects farmers with young advisors and an agricultural tech incubation center, Tanzania is making agriculture a more appealing and viable career for youth.

The event then transitioned into a panel discussion with youth leaders providing insights on the outcomes of the 2024 WFF flagship event and some of the main ongoing initiatives. Audrey Wong of the WFF Youth Policy Board (YPB), linked the session’s themes to the CFS youth policy recommendations, underscoring the importance of aligning youth initiatives with global policy. She outlined the YPB's efforts toward actionable strategies, which are highlighted in the Global Youth Action Plan that was launched at the WFF flagship event. The Plan provides an overview of each region’s challenges and identified policy priorities, coupled with an action plan to address these challenges in alignment with the policy priorities.

Celia Burgaz, a member of the WFF Young Scientist Group (YSG), shared insights from the recently released YSG report on digital technology's role in multidimensional youth engagement. The report highlighted how artificial intelligence and digital tools offer new opportunities and challenges, shaping the future for young agrifood entrepreneurs and advocates.

During the panel discussion, Leticia Tanchella Niehues from the WFF Education programme, Celeste Macilwaine, Head of WFF Innovation Lab, and Stephanie Cabovianco, WFF Argentina National Chapter lead, shared diverse approaches to empower youth in agrifood systems through education, innovation and local action. The event also fostered interactive discussions with the audience, allowing for an exchange of ideas on promoting youth-led solutions in agriculture.

In her closing remarks, Erma Rheindrayani, Indonesia’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Rome, highlighted the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in transforming agrifood systems inclusively. The event concluded with reflections on the importance of addressing technological and financial challenges faced by young people and pathways for enhancing youth engagement to ensure global food security.