WFF China Youth Chapter visited FAO headquarters in Rome
14/07/2025
From 5–6 June 2025, a youth delegation from the World Food Forum (WFF) China Youth Chapter visited the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. The visit marked a key moment in strengthening collaboration and spotlighted the growing leadership of Chinese youth in agrifood systems transformation.
The delegation, composed of three youth representatives from the Chapter, was welcomed by the WFF Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) team within FAO’s Office of Youth and Women (OYW), which supports the National Youth Chapters through capacity development, knowledge exchange and global visibility. During their time in Rome, the delegation engaged with various programmes of the WFF Youth Initiative, participating in focused discussions on their structure, priorities and ongoing activities.
These sessions created a space for mutual learning, where the China Chapter shared recent updates on its activities and outreach, and explored opportunities to deepen its engagement. The Youth Initiative reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Chapters like China’s to scale their impact, connect globally, and meaningfully contribute to FAO’s mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The visit also provided an opportunity to engage with other FAO divisions, including the e Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) team and the Office of Innovation (OIN). These discussions centered on shared thematic priorities, such as youth-led innovation and smart agriculture, especially in light of the Chapter’s upcoming innovation competition.
The Youth Chapter is structured into three provincial chapters - Chengdu, Hangzhou and Beijing - to reflect the country’s vast geography and local diversity. The Chengdu Chapter was officially launched in March 2025 and has hosted a series of successful initiatives, including the Women Agripreneurs Exhibition, the Innovation Showcase in AI-Driven Smart Agriculture, among others. Preparations are currently underway for the launch of the Hangzhou and Beijing Chapters, as well as the formal national launch at the 2025 WFF flagship event.
This visit served as a pivotal step in deepening the Chapter’s integration into the global youth agrifood systems movement, fostering cross-regional collaboration and advancing youth-driven innovation and leadership in support of sustainable agrifood systems.
The delegation, composed of three youth representatives from the Chapter, was welcomed by the WFF Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) team within FAO’s Office of Youth and Women (OYW), which supports the National Youth Chapters through capacity development, knowledge exchange and global visibility. During their time in Rome, the delegation engaged with various programmes of the WFF Youth Initiative, participating in focused discussions on their structure, priorities and ongoing activities.
These sessions created a space for mutual learning, where the China Chapter shared recent updates on its activities and outreach, and explored opportunities to deepen its engagement. The Youth Initiative reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Chapters like China’s to scale their impact, connect globally, and meaningfully contribute to FAO’s mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The visit also provided an opportunity to engage with other FAO divisions, including the e Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) team and the Office of Innovation (OIN). These discussions centered on shared thematic priorities, such as youth-led innovation and smart agriculture, especially in light of the Chapter’s upcoming innovation competition.
The Youth Chapter is structured into three provincial chapters - Chengdu, Hangzhou and Beijing - to reflect the country’s vast geography and local diversity. The Chengdu Chapter was officially launched in March 2025 and has hosted a series of successful initiatives, including the Women Agripreneurs Exhibition, the Innovation Showcase in AI-Driven Smart Agriculture, among others. Preparations are currently underway for the launch of the Hangzhou and Beijing Chapters, as well as the formal national launch at the 2025 WFF flagship event.
This visit served as a pivotal step in deepening the Chapter’s integration into the global youth agrifood systems movement, fostering cross-regional collaboration and advancing youth-driven innovation and leadership in support of sustainable agrifood systems.
An initiative of 