Youth Assembly consultation: Leading innovation in agricultural water management

On 25 July, the World Food Forum (WFF)’s Youth Assembly hosted a Thematic Youth Assembly session on water management. The session was organized in collaboration with the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Building on the 2024 youth statement on water scarcity presented at the Rome Water Dialogue, the 2025 consultative process sought to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, advancing youth engagement by showcasing youth-led innovations, fostering knowledge exchange and exploring strategies to improve water interventions. The outcomes of this assembly will help shape a sustained youth perspective for upcoming United Nations water-related events and high-level dialogues, including the 2025 Rome Water Dialogue and the United Nations Water Conference.

Youth shared a wide range of innovative solutions for agricultural water management, from wastewater purification for aquaculture in Zimbabwe, to hydroponic and aquaponic systems in Kenya and Nigeria, to digital irrigation monitoring tools in Latin America and the Near East. Across Asia and the Pacific and North America, young innovators are applying Artificial Intelligence and remote sensing technologies. Yet, many still face barriers such as limited funding, insufficient mentorship and lack of access to policymaking spaces.

The ideas, case studies, and best practices shared by youth will contribute to a collective vision for harnessing youth-led innovation in water management, a vision that will be presented at the 2025 edition of the Rome Water Dialogue.

This process has been made possible through a strong collaborative network of youth organizations and institutional partners. In partnership with the Youth Food Lab Programme, the session highlighted innovations from the Hydro Rescuers Project, MADZI Tech and LixiLab, showcasing best practices that exemplify meaningful intergenerational and cross-sector cooperation. As the Thematic Youth Assembly on Water Management roadmap unfolds, youth remain at the forefront, innovating, organizing and advocating for a water-secure future.