Regarding question one, I should say two things can help them in my point of view, first giving them opportunity to get organic, biodynamic etc. certificate or produce crops with high quality (because they have mostly small field or farm) therefore they can sail their products in higher price and even export to developed countries, in this way government and big company invest in rural area and cover their lands. Secondly, it is necessary to establish post harvest companies in rural areas to do it and packaging their products.
About question two, there are different successful stories in my country, but most striking example could be develop fish culture in dryness area instead of vegetables and crop cultivation.
One of most important challenges regarding Food Security Research in Iran is ignoring quality of food. In other words, most research work only have pay attention to amount of production even by unsustainable methods and unhealthy materials like GMO. Another negative point in Food Security Research is lack of economic analysis in research works either ecological or financially. For example, most of researchers don’t calculate virtual water in their analysis! in spite the fact Iran is located in arid and semi arid area and face to climate change and global warming nowadays!
In my view, for involving youth in agriculture ei. food security, we should make it more interesting and use of modern technology in this sector. We, in YPARD Iran, are developing a concept entitled "ECO- FRIENDLY VILLAGE" which you can find attached. We can change our rural area more environmental friendly to achieve our goals in Food Security by young researcher by following "ECO-FRIENDLY VILLAGE CONCEPTS".
I would appreciate if you assist me to improve the concept!
Dr. Mohammadreza Davari