Youth Design Digital Solutions for Farmers at the World Food Forum 2025
As part of this year’s World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event in October, at FAO headquarters in Rome, students from eight Italian high schools took on the challenge of designing digital solutions to support farmers around the world. The activity under the theme “Youth Empowerment through Agro-informatics and Digital Technologies in Agriculture”, took place within the WFF Discovery Stations of the CultivatED schools programme.
This interactive session followed an online masterclass held in September, where students were introduced to FAO’s Agro-informatics Platform and Digital Services Portfolio (DSP). During that session, FAO experts explained how data, information systems, and mobile tools can help farmers make informed decisions, improve productivity, and adapt to climate variability. Students learned how these FAO platforms combine geospatial data, analytics, and field-level information to deliver real-time insights and tailored services for farmers and communities worldwide.
From Learning to Action: The Farmer’s App Challenge
Students had the opportunity to concretely apply their knowledge during the Discovery Station activity at the WFF flagship event. Each participating school group was assigned a different country from various regions of the world and asked to imagine themselves as farmers working in that setting. They researched local farming practices, environmental conditions, and the main challenges such as limited access to markets, pest outbreaks, or changing weather patterns.
Based on their research, each group designed a concept for a simple mobile application that could help farmers address those issues. Working collaboratively, they developed their ideas on paper, sketching app interfaces and defining core features such as crop management tools, weather and soil information, or local knowledge-sharing platforms. Creativity sparked among youth, with some groups proposing tools for collecting and visualizing data, while others designed community-based platforms to connect farmers and exchange practical solutions.
"This activity encouraged creative and thoughtful approaches, showing how young people can use digital thinking to respond to real agricultural needs," shares Dioguen Zaridze, Information Technology Officer at FAO. "Through this exercise, students were able to gain a deeper appreciation of how digital systems and data services can strengthen the connection between technology, people and sustainable farming practices," he adds.
Dialogue and Exchange
This youth-focused initiative offered a space for open dialogue between FAO teams and young participants. Students presented their concepts, asked questions, and received feedback from FAO experts working on the Agro-informatics Platform and digital solutions for agrifood systems. These exchanges not only allowed them to experience first-hand the process of designing user-focused digital tools but also helped them understand the interdisciplinary nature of developing data-driven services for farmers.
Their fresh perspectives also provided valuable input for FAO’s Digital Services Portfolio's developments, reflecting how youth can contribute to shaping the future of digital tools in agriculture. By integrating the insights of younger generations, FAO continues to promote the development of accessible, inclusive and locally relevant digital solutions for farming communities worldwide.
“Digital tools have the power to connect farmers, improve access to information, and support better decision-making,” said Karl Morteo, Senior Information Technology Officer at FAO. “By engaging the youth, who are our future, we are helping them understand both the potential and responsibility that come with using technology to support a sustainable food future.”
Empowering Youth Through Digital Tools in Agriculture
FAO’s Agro-informatics Platform and Digital Services Portfolio are central to the Organization's efforts to harness data and information for better agrifood outcomes. By introducing these tools through new learning initiatives such as the CultivatED masterclass and WFF Discovery Stations, FAO provides a meaningful entry point for young people to engage with the digital transformation of agrifood systems.
These platforms not only demonstrate how information technology can be applied to support farmers and policymakers but also serve as a bridge between education, science and real-world action. Engaging students in the exploration of these digital resources helps them understand how data-driven digital technologies can contribute to food security, sustainability and resilience when used responsibly and creatively.
Through such initiatives, FAO continues to show how empowering youth through practical demonstrations of the Agro-informatics Platform and Digital Services Portfolio is an essential step toward building a future where technology supports sustainable agrifood systems for the benefit of the people, ensuring that no one is left behind.