As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrates its 80th anniversary, the spotlight is shifting from solely honouring its longstanding mission to also highlighting the dynamic participation of youth and women in driving positive changes in agrifood systems. This milestone highlights a profound commitment to inclusiveness, underscoring that the future of agrifood systems rests on the empowerment of these indispensable actors. Across the globe, young people and women are not merely beneficiaries of change, they are drivers of innovation, resilience and sustainability.
Closing ceremony of the World Food Forum (WFF) 2024. (COURTESY PHOTO)
Empowering Youth and Women
The FAO Office of Youth and Women has been at the forefront of unlocking the potential of young people and women in agrifood systems. Despite challenges such as limited resources, unequal access to training and restricted participation in decision-making, the Office has developed initiatives that promote empowerment and inclusivity. Among these, the World Food Forum’s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) has emerged as a transformative platform for youth engagement and leadership.
Now in its fifth year under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” WFF Youth Initiative harnesses the passion and power of youth to transform our agrifood systems.
WFF Youth Initiative’s work spans thematic programmes that bridge education, culture, innovation and local action. The Youth Assembly, Youth Innovation Lab, Youth Education Programme, Youth Culture Programme, and Local Youth Action Programme collectively create space for young leaders to design innovative solutions, engage in policymaking and translate global ambitions into tangible local outcomes.
Over the past years, the WFF Youth Initiative has united youth organizations, governments, private sector actors, academia and indigenous communities. This collaboration led to the launch of the first-ever Global Youth Action Plan (GYAP) in 2024 and the creation of 50 National Youth Chapters by the end of 2025. Beyond policy and networks, the WFF Youth Initiative also brings generations together through music, art, film and gastronomy—harnessing culture as a powerful driver of transformation.
China’s Model and Global Engagement
China has provided a vivid example of how structural support can amplify the roles of women and youth in advancing agricultural development. Investments in digital infrastructure such as internet access, mobile communications and e-commerce services have enabled rural communities, including those in remote areas, to emerge as new drivers for innovation.
Women and young people are now leveraging digital agriculture platforms, online marketing and rural e-commerce to expand sales channels, increase market competitiveness and actively participate in rural revitalization. These experiences are creating valuable lessons for other developing countries seeking to combine technological innovation with inclusive development.
Global gatherings further nurture youth leadership by blending traditional knowledge with contemporary innovation. In August 2025, the “Youth Action on Green Agri-Heritage: Global Cultural Symbiosis” event in Shanghai brought together young representatives from 13 countries including Laos and Mongolia. Participants explored the intersection of agricultural heritage and modern agrifood solutions by exchanging ideas, building networks, and localizing global initiatives. This gathering of countries, which convened youth and key stakeholders, also highlighted China’s role in fostering global youth exchange and idea networking.
The connection between these initiatives and the WFF Youth Initiative, particularly its expanding network of National Youth Chapters, is vital. Chapters like the WFF Chengdu Chapter in China serve as local hubs for youth engagement, linking grassroots action to global policy dialogue. By aligning global events such as the Shanghai gathering with this growing network, young people are empowered not only to learn, but also to lead, advocate, and scale solutions in their own countries —creating real synergy between international cooperation and local action.
Innovation and Digital Transformation
Through its activities, the WFF Youth Initiative supports youth-led startups and young researchers by providing seed funding, strengthening entrepreneurial skills and connecting them with investors eager to back youth-driven innovation. Global competitions like the Startup Innovation Awards showcase youth- and women-led solutions for agrifood systems while offering mentorship, networks and visibility at global platforms such as the WFF flagship event. From India to Egypt, Kenya to Costa Rica, young entrepreneurs are gaining the tools and opportunities to scale innovations that embed sustainability and inclusion at their core.
Digital tools and emerging technologies are opening new opportunities for youth and women in agriculture. To ensure equitable access, the WFF Youth Initiative is equipping young agrifood practitioners with the skills to thrive in a rapidly digitizing sector. The Young Scientists Group contributes by generating knowledge and supporting youth-led activities. In 2024, it released a landmark report on how digital tools can foster learning and innovation across agrifood systems.
Building on this foundation, the Youth Skills Hub, now offers masterclasses, publications, and career resources tailored to the needs of young people, especially from the Global South. A 2025 needs assessment with participants from 61 countries confirmed that digital solutions can play a key role in closing gaps and driving inclusion.
Looking ahead, the WFF Youth Initiative is focusing on advancing youth engagement in tackling global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity. Through the Youth Assembly, youth step into policy and decision-making spaces, share their ideas and perspectives, and connect grassroots insights with global dialogue.
Through the GYAP 2025–2026, the Youth Assembly has identified regional challenges and actionable solutions. It has also organized thematic consultations on ten key challenges facing the agrifood systems, and by September 2025 had hosted 22 sessions, engaging over 2,100 participants from 189 countries. Outcomes feed into FAO processes and intergovernmental dialogues, including the UNFSS+4 Youth Declaration on Food Systems Transformation and recommendations on empowering young women in agrifood systems, ensuring youth perspectives shape the policies that affect food security and sustainable development worldwide. Across regions and cultures, these efforts share a conviction: the future of agrifood systems rests on the empowerment of youth and women. From local e-commerce platforms in rural China to global gatherings in Shanghai, from digital learning hubs to international startup competitions, the message is clear. Youth and women are not passive actors but catalysts, innovators, and leaders of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems.
As the next chapter unfolds, the WFF Youth Initiative will continue creating spaces where knowledge, culture and innovation converge, ensuring that the voices of youth and women resonate worldwide. In doing so, they are not only safeguarding agricultural heritage but also shaping a future where sustainable and equitable agrifood systems are within reach for all.
Editor’s Note: This article has been compiled and edited by China Report ASEAN based on an interview with the FAO Office of Youth and Women.