WFF Ireland Youth Chapter engages youth voices in shaping agrifood systems

On 9 May 2025, the World Food Forum (WFF) Ireland Youth Chapter (Youth Food Forum) hosted its 2025 kick-off event in Dublin, bringing youth perspectives to the forefront of Ireland's agrifood future. Held at the Airfield Estate, the in-person event gathered about 40 young professionals, researchers and students involved across Ireland's agrifood systems, including both current and new Chapter members.

The event opened with remarks from Kazuki Kitaoka, Director of the Office of Youth and Women at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Claire Mac Evilly, CEO of Airfield Estate. These were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Sarah McIntosh, Journalist with Irish Country Living and Chapter member. Speakers included Marcus O’Halloran, Executive Director Agri Aware; Hazel Rooney, Pig Technical Coordinator Alltech Ireland; Niamh Gunn, International Graduate Bord Bia; and Brian Dunne, Deputy Project Manager Acres Leinste, each bringing unique perspectives across the agrifood systems value chain.

Aligning with the Chapter’s mission to empower and equip youth to build a better food future in Ireland and globally, the event encouraged participants to rethink agrifood systems. Youth engaged in discussions on high-nature value farming, sustainable production and consumption, environmental action as well as true pricing of food, inclusion and loss and waste.

The event also featured networking sessions and a workshop led by Molly Garvey, food facilitator and Chapter member. The workshop invited participants to reflect on key challenges facing Ireland's agrifood systems, such as generational succession, low-income levels and lack of young farmers, as well as opportunities such as technology and digitalisation. Participants also explored how the Chapter can support youth-led solutions to these pressing issues.

Since their launch in March 2024, the Chapter has steadily grown and engaged more people. Over the past year, the Chapter has hosted two strategic youth agrifood systems dialogues and a National Youth Food Summit in September 2024, with the support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine  and the Irish Forum for International Agricultural Development (IFIAD).

The panel discussion on Ireland's food future marked the first in a new series of in-person events designed to raise awareness and connect with young leaders across the country. Save the date for the next in-person meeting of the Chapter taking place in Cork – 5 July 2025.

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