World Food Forum: Youth at the centre as global event brings together students, young farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs

Rome – The World Food Forum’s (WFF) Global Youth event opened on Monday at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with a concert featuring young and upcoming artists from around the world.

The ceremony celebrated inclusivity with an emphasis on the role young people can play in the context of this year’s WFF theme: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action”.

In his opening remarks FAO Director-General QU Dongyu noted that youth should be encouraged to learn from mistakes.

“When you are young you are allowed to make small mistakes, but you have to learn from your small mistakes to avoid big mistakes in the future,” he added, describing the Forum as “a platform to explore yourself, for the future and what you want to become whether that is a leader, an experienced farmer or a scientist.”

Performers included a traditional Peruvian dance group, a Zimbabwean singer-songwriter Mpiwa Gwindi, a Liberian singer-songwriter Mon Rovîa and an Indigenous musician Atama Katama from Malaysia.

Youth transforms ideas into impact

The Global Youth Forum from October 16-20 will bring together the next generation of students, farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs to discuss and enact change – from the local to the global level.

Participants can attend workshops, events and roundtable discussions where they can foster connections, engage with industry leaders and gain the tools necessary to address today’s challenges on food insecurity and climate change. The events during the four-day forum will be organized around four thematic tracks: Youth Action, Innovation, Education and Culture.

The Youth Action track is set to host events and policy dialogues setting the basis for the Youth Action Assembly, where young people will be able to discuss local priorities and challenges and identify actionable solutions for a better food future. This year, youth groups will consult on a 2024 global action plan with policies to accelerate climate action and improve access to healthy diets.

The WFF Innovation Lab consists of hands-on competitions for students and young professionals including key events such as the Startup Innovation Awards and Transformative Research Challenge. The Startup Innovation Awards aim to elevate young entrepreneurs creating new technologies and innovation that will benefit our planet. Whereas innovative research ideas and project proposals to help transform agrifood systems will be at the core of the Transformative Research Challenge.

The Youth and United Nation Global Alliance (YUNGA) School Assembly is an aspect of the Education track to inspire children and youth everywhere. It invites students from Italy to FAO, alongside others virtually from across the world, to engage and share knowledge from international leaders and youth activists about taking climate action.

The Culture track will sew in gastronomy, art, music and film to enhance connection and communication across borders and cultures. Events such as the Film Festival and cooking demonstrations will highlight how cultural celebration can bridge the gap between policy, youth advocacy and actionable solutions.

This FAO-hosted forum is committed to providing a platform for the youth-led movement and network of participants to discuss ideas and generate solutions to transform our agrifood systems and create a better shared future for all.

The Forum takes place in parallel to the United Nations Global Indigenous Youth Forum (UNGIYF).