In 2024, the World Food Forum’s (WFF) Youth Assembly will be hosting sessions regularly throughout the year, to delve into important topics and conferences that play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our agrifood systems. In line with this, the Assembly is planning dedicated thematic sessions linked to three major FAO Committees - namely the Committee on Forestry (COFO), the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) – as well as side events during each of the Committees. The objective is to ensure that youth voices are heard and actively contribute to ongoing policy discussions and debates. Outcome documents and roadmaps from these dialogues and sessions will be presented at the WFF flagship event in October and published by the end of 2024.

In this context, this proposed side event aims to bring together the results and youth recommendations from the thematic Youth Assembly sessions held on COFO, COFI, the COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock, as well as on land and water management, and present them at COAG. The event will explore integrated approaches to sustainable agrifood systems and formulate a call to action for policymakers, urging them to consider youth viewpoints in their work. By presenting youth-led recommendations and showcasing successful youth initiatives, the side event will advocate for the integration of youth perspectives into global agricultural policies, echoing the call to action outlined in the Policy recommendations on promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems for food security and nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

Following the event, thematic Youth Assembly sessions on One Health, biodiversity, climate change and bioeconomy will take place, culminating in a side event at CFS52. This will allow for youth-led perspectives and actionable recommendations on sustainable agrifood systems, inclusive dialogue, and multi-stakeholder engagement to address global food security and nutrition challenges. At the end of the year, an outcome document summarizing the Youth Assembly discussions and recommendations on COAG and CFS will be drafted to advocate for the integration of youth perspectives into global agrifood systems policies. The WFF's Youth Assembly will continue to promote and expand on this call to action, with further developments to be presented at COAG 30.