Youth lead agrifood systems transformation: Launch of the WFF Türkiye Youth Chapter

The World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Türkiye, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Agriculture and Forestry Youth Council, Özyeğin University and Yaşar University, launched the WFF Türkiye Youth Chapter. The event marked a significant step towards empowering young people to drive innovation, sustainability and inclusiveness across the country’s agrifood systems.

Held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Ankara, the launch of the Chapter brought together 112 participants, including students, government officials, academics, private sector representatives and youth organizations, to advance youth engagement in transforming agrifood systems through policy dialogue, innovation and cultural exchange.

Serving as a national platform for dialogue between youth and key agrifood systems stakeholders, the Chapter saw active participation from universities including Yaşar, Özyeğin, Medipol, Başkent, Beykoz and Altınbaş.

The event featured three thematic sessions: policy, science and innovation, and culture and gastronomy, where young participants co-developed concrete proposals and networks to address national and global agrifood systems challenges.

• Policy session: Participants proposed launching a Young Producers Network and new mentorship programmes to strengthen youth participation in agricultural governance and rural development.
• Science and innovation session: Discussions emphasized the role of technology and collaboration in advancing sustainable agriculture, leading to a proposal for a Youth Science and Innovation Network to connect young researchers, entrepreneurs and institutions.
• Culture and gastronomy session: Participants explored digital storytelling as a tool to preserve the country’s rich culinary heritage, introducing creative initiatives such as a Digital Food Museum and a Celebrate Rural Roots campaign.

With challenges like an aging rural population, climate change and evolving global food demands, empowering young people has become vital to ensuring the sustainability of Türkiye’s agrifood systems. The event reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to positioning youth not merely as beneficiaries but as key partners in driving agrifood systems transformation.

Looking ahead, the Chapter will focus on implementing actionable youth-led initiatives, including:

• Launching the Youth Science and Innovation Network platform;
• Rolling out the Celebrate Rural Roots digital campaign; and
• Organizing an AgroTech and Gastronomy Innovation Festival, co-led by youth and universities.

These efforts aim to strengthen youth participation and foster innovation to build more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems.