The Mediterranean Youth Taskforce’s journey at the World Food Forum: empowering local youth for agrifood transformation

The World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event is a global gathering that seeks to address one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity: ensuring food security for all. In this global movement, a delegation of the Mediterranean Youth Task Force (MYTF) participated in various sessions. 

Empowering youth for local impact 
The session “National Chapters: Empowering Local Youth Action to Drive Global Agrifood Transformation” aimed to shed light on the diverse and complex nature of agrifood systems and underscored the crucial need for location-specific, youth-driven solutions in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. It brought to the forefront the importance of recognizing the intricate tapestry of agrifood systems across the globe. These systems, which play a critical role in feeding the world, vary greatly from one region to another. The event underlined the need for local youth-led solutions to effectively combat the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition. The panellists were WFF leaders from many different corners of the world. They presented their achievements in their home countries, highlighting local action and youth leadership. The challenges they encountered ranged from inadequate infrastructure to economic disparities and environmental issues. The session served as a platform for a constructive exchange of ideas and lessons learned, highlighting the importance of collaboration among youth-led organizations. 

Empowering youth for water and ocean sustainability in the Near East and North Africa 
This session emphasized that conventional desalination techniques in the Near East and North Africa contribute to a sizeable carbon footprint and annually release billions of cubic metres of brine waste into the sea, contributing to water shortage issues and threatening marine conservation. Several initiatives and efforts originating in the region that equip youth to be agents of transformation towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow were showcased. One key approach suggested is the triple A approach: advocacy, action and aspiration.  

Promoting youth-led solutions in the bioeconomy 
This session discussed the interplay between youth, employment and entrepreneurship within the bioeconomy. It featured a keynote from the Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador of the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB), who focused on young people’s pivotal role within the bioeconomy and their transformative capacity for food systems. A summary of the opportunities for youth in the bioeconomy study conducted by the Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) of FAO was presented. Its primary goal is to delve into the nuances of employment and entrepreneurship within the bioeconomy, with a specific emphasis on understanding the position and perspective of young people. The main challenges that need tackling to transition to a just and youth-inclusive bioeconomy include high unemployment rates, high neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET) rates, the negative impact of COVID-19 on youth employment, considering that such challenges are further exacerbated by gender, including the ageing population in rural areas, and the increasing urbanization, and getting young people interested in the bioeconomy. Because the bioeconomy is a knowledge-based economy, and even though there is a global trend of declining enrolment in vocational training, there are examples of successfully adopting interdisciplinary approaches to education. Investing in and empowering youth entrepreneurship does not only support individual businesses, but also fosters an ecosystem of innovation, job creation and economic growth, which has far-reaching impacts beyond the immediate industry or sector. The ripple effect has the potential to transform the broader business landscape, making it more dynamic, inclusive and future ready. 

Shifting mindsets, fostering connections: innovation with the private sector 
This session examined how harnessing the collaborative potential between development allies and the private sector in promoting youth innovation can enhance inclusivity and teamwork in transforming agrifood systems and simultaneously accelerating climate initiatives. The session highlighted that bridging the gap between youth and startups with well-established agribusiness firms paves the way for open innovation, fostering a sustainable future for agrifood systems.  

Systems Change Summit 
At the Systems Change Summit, six youth advocates highlighted their respective projects and results from their home countries. These projects tackle overfishing, promote environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies, address inaccessibility to resources and education, the low quality of available nutrition, mental health issues, and food sustainability design. Overall, they aimed to bring about systemic change at both intergenerational and intercultural levels, by amplifying interest, linking with adaptable educational content, and cultivating a research-oriented mindset among the upcoming generation. 

Takeaway messages 
Irrespective of the nation or industry, youth are deprived of a myriad of opportunities. This is predominantly because there is a glaring lack of policies designed to nurture their entrepreneurial endeavours within a favourable ecosystem.  

As a young and informed collective, the MYTF is brimming with passion and ideas. We find ourselves at a unique juncture where we have both the responsibility and the choice to shape the future. The WFF represents a platform to express youth’s perspectives. However, having a voice is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in turning words into actions and actively participating in decision-making processes. 

The WFF provided the MYTF delegation an opportunity to connect with many young visionaries, forming a diverse set of voices – from fellow young thinkers to seasoned farmers, from Indigenous leaders to policymakers, and from eager agri-investors to dedicated researchers – where our exchanges were not just enlightening but also reflective of the broader conversations happening at the WFF.  

*This is an article drafted by the Mediterranean Youth Task Force (MYTF) members and represents the views and opinions of its authors. 

Satia Ras (MYTF) and Hiba Mohammad (MYTF)