Side Event of the High-Level Political Forum - “From Strategy to Action: Youth leadership in agri-food systems transformation and innovation for a better food future for everyone, everywhere”

Side Event of the High-Level Political Forum

“From Strategy to Action:
Youth leadership in agri-food systems transformation and innovation for
a better food future for everyone, everywhere” 

Video Message

by

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

14 July 2021

 

1. The future of food belongs to the young people of today.

2. We owe it to them to act responsibly, together, for a more equitable and sustainable tomorrow.

3. FAO is committed to supporting the Agenda 2030 through a major transformative effort for MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems;

4. based on the “4 Betters”: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

5. To achieve this, it is instrumental that we:

• listen to and invest in youth;
• leverage their passion and creativity to identify new solutions;
• engage them in the decision-making processes; and
• empower them to lead the way in building a better food future.

6. Shortly after taking office in 2019, I launched the FAO Youth Committee to increase youth engagement and foster their innovative spark.

7. The Youth Committee has since been actively networking among young FAO staff and beyond.

8. It reached out to global youth with the launch of the World Food Forum.

9. We are here today, within the framework of the High-Level Political Forum;

10. as part of FAO’s effort to ensure meaningful youth engagement and participation;

11. bringing together youth leaders to voice their actionable solutions and commitments;

12. for a positive and sustainable transformation of our global agri-food systems.

13. In the past months, we have built alliances and strengthened our collaboration with youth movements, organizations and initiatives from all over the world.

14. As a convener, we have mobilized Members to combine efforts and coordinate actions to achieve transformation.

15. The complexity of our agri-food systems requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral and inter-generational approach.

16. We need to create an open and meaningful space for youth engagement, participation and leadership.

17. This is even more crucial in light of the pandemic, as we build back our societies and economies, and shape the foundation of a better food future for everyone, everywhere.

18. The World Food Forum, which officially launched its preparatory work in March 2021, is a powerful mechanism for such youth engagement.

19. In close cooperation with the UN Food Systems Summit, the World Food Forum is providing an important platform for online consultations of the global youth.

20. These gather ideas and actions for youth-led and youth-centered agri-food systems transformation.

21. The outcome of these consultations will be presented to the UN Food Systems Pre-summit in Rome at the end of July.

22. The flagship event of the World Food Forum will take place from 1 to 6 October of this year.

23. It will be a week-long celebration of youth-driven, sustainable solutions and innovative approaches for a better food future.

24. Beyond this year, the Forum will continue to be a platform to engage and empower youth to transform our agri-food systems and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

25. Today’s side event is an important milestone on this path.

26. I look forward to the contributions of the many young leaders from different communities and disciplines participating today.

27. We must support and empower young people in becoming champions of the agri-food systems transformation for a better future.

Thank you.