Youth Food Lab Nepal launches Agrifood Incubation Programme

On 4 July 2025, the Youth Food Lab (YFL) Nepal officially launched its 2025 Agrifood Incubation Programme with a virtual kick-off session.

Part of the World Food Forum (WFF) global YFL network, the YFL Nepal is a locally led initiative designed to respond to national needs and drive homegrown solutions. The programme is coordinated by the WFF Nepal Youth Chapter and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Nepal, in partnership with King’s College and Innovation Kitchen.

The session marked the beginning of a shared journey towards agrifood systems transformation, welcoming 12 youth-led startups and innovation projects selected through a competitive process.

In his opening remarks, Jun He, Senior Policy Officer in the FAO Country Office in Nepal, emphasized that “agricultural innovation does not necessarily mean high technology - it can also mean rediscovering Indigenous and traditional wisdom”. He noted YFL Nepal's unique role in helping youth turn ideas into transformative solutions.

Maria Kolesina from the WFF Youth Initiative, who leads the global YFL congratulated the selected teams. “This is a space for experimentation, action and connection", she said, encouraging participants to collaborate, stay curious and build networks.

Arun GC, Programme Specialist in the FAO Country Office in Nepal, highlighted that YFL Nepal supports youth from ideation to entrepreneurship, empowering them to create sustainable enterprises that benefit local farming communities. He emphasized the need to bring together stakeholders across sectors to build a broader movement for agrifood innovation.

The selected cohort represents four provinces of Nepal and is tackling diverse agrifood systems challenges, from sustainable animal feed production and post-harvest loss to Indigenous food promotion and digitalization.
The Innovation Kitchen team at King’s College presented the programme package, which includes personalized coaching, masterclasses, mentorship and a final Demo Day to pitch to investors and stakeholders.

In his closing remarks, Narottam Aryal, President of King’s College, underscored the need for an entrepreneurial mindset, quoting, “we often talk about agricultural innovation, but what we truly need is youth entrepreneurship to transform Nepal’s agrifood sector”.

The session concluded with a milestone-setting workshop, helping teams translate their ideas into clear, actionable goals. Over the next two months, these young innovators will refine their models and prepare to scale impact across Nepal’s agrifood systems.