Youth training: From classroom to field for agrifood systems transformation

During the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event, the OCP Foundation organized an engaging youth side event titled “Youth training: From classroom to field for food system future”, bringing together passionate youth voices, changemakers and partners to discuss how education and innovation can drive agrifood systems transformation.

The event, which took place on 14 October, aimed to bridge education and practice by highlighting youth-led agricultural learning models, reinforcing the role of young people as drivers of sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

The session opened with remarks from Abdellah Larhmaid, Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, who emphasized Africa’s growing role as a hub of innovation, technology and leadership in agriculture. 4-H Ghana presented its Learn, Earn and Go Green programme, which equips thousands of students in Ghana and Zambia with practical agricultural skills through school gardens and agrifood systems education.

Speakers from Farmers Abroad Canada and the OCP Foundation’s education programme in Marrakesh underscored the importance of youth empowerment and innovation in tackling global food security challenges. They called for greater collaboration across North-South networks, enabling Moroccan and Canadian students to exchange knowledge and benefit from hands-on agricultural training.

Students from Mohammed VI High School introduced Agribotics, their youth-led initiative promoting sustainable agriculture from seed to feed and encouraged young people across Africa and beyond to take the lead in shaping a more sustainable future. Duinstra Jacob, co-founder of Sensemakers, presented a global matching platform connecting young professionals with agricultural projects worldwide, from cacao cost price analysis in Bolivia to dairy optimization in Mozambique.

The session also emphasized the importance of equipping educators to guide youth-led innovation, with teachers in Morocco and Ghana trained and directly involved in implementing these programmes.

The event concluded with youth reflections reaffirming that education, mentorship and innovation are the foundations of agrifood systems transformation, underscoring that empowering youth from classroom to field is essential for a sustainable food future.