Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: The Role of Youth in Agrifood Systems Transformation

The agrifood sector is facing immense challenges related to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.

As the global population continues to grow, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in food systems. With less than six years to achieve SDGs effort must be accelerated in all aspects. The involvement of youth is essential to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience in agrifood systems. Youth bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a keen understanding of modern technologies, making them crucial to the future of agrifood systems. However, they often face significant barriers, including limited access to resources, education, and employment opportunities. According to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) report on the Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022, between 2010 and 2019, youth employment shifted out of agriculture and construction and into market and non-market services. Many young people prefer to work on other sectors or find opportunities in more luxurious fields e.g. industries, services, in urban centers or cities etc. 

This webinar, organized by the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) in collaboration with the FAO Office of Youth and Women (OYW), aims to harness the potential of youth to transform agrifood systems in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) and the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31,which emphasizes the transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Agenda

Webinar moderator: Mr Yurdi Yasmi, Special Coordinator, Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP)

Item	Presenter
Welcoming Remarks	Ms Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General
Opening Remarks – Youth and  Technological innovation in Asia	Mr Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General / Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific Region (RAP),
Shaping the Future of Agrifood  Systems – Why Youth Matter	Mr Kazuki Kitaoka, Senior Programme Officer, Office of Youth and Women (OYW), FAO
Youth Employment in Agrifood Systems: What is the Prospect?	Ms Janetta Carlucci, Social Policy Officer  (Youth Employment), Regional Office for Africa (RAF), FAO
Agricultural Mechanization and Digitalization: Opportunity to  Re-Engage Youth?	Mr Marzio Devalle, Senior Manager, Cluster Organization Southeast Europe and Turkey, Lely
Indigenous Youth and Agriculture:  Why We Cannot Leave Them Behind?	Ms Laetania Belai Djandam, Indigenous Environmental Activist, the Dayak Tribe of Borneo Island, Indonesia
Youth Leadership in Agricultural Mechanization: Some Good News	Ms Mayling Flores Rojas, Agricultural Engineer, NSP, FAO
General Discussion	All
Closing Remarks – Youth and Their Role in Transforming Agrifood Systems	Mr Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Assistant  Director-General / Regional Representative  of Africa Region (RAF)

 

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