Regional Launch for Latin America and the Caribbean of the FAO Report “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems”

Live broadcast

Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognizes the central role that youth play in transforming agrifood systems and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through its Strategic Framework 2022–2031, FAO has identified youth as a group whose needs must be addressed in a cross-cutting manner across all areas of the Organization’s work.

In 2025, FAO published the report “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems”, which provides comprehensive data and insights on the participation and contributions of young people in agrifood systems around the world, as well as the benefits derived from their engagement.

The report examines how the transformation of agrifood systems can create opportunities for decent employment and improve food security for youth, positioning them as drivers of change. It also explores the resilience of rural youth in the face of economic and natural shocks, their adaptation and mitigation strategies, and how their participation in agrifood systems intersects with migration and climate change, considering factors such as gender and socioeconomic status. The findings aim to guide countries in formulating public policies that promote more equitable and sustainable agrifood systems.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, young people represent one in every six individuals. It is estimated that 65% live in rural or peri-urban areas, and approximately 39% are employed in agrifood systems—either directly in agriculture or in non-agricultural activities along the food value chain. This youth population constitutes a key force for advancing toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Recognizing the importance of scaling up work with youth in the region, FAO is organizing the Regional Launch of the Report, with the objective of sharing key findings, discussing their regional implications, and catalyzing joint action among governments, youth, and strategic partners.

General Objective

To present the findings and recommendations of the report “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems”, highlighting its relevance for the Latin America and Caribbean region, and to foster dialogue among policymakers, youth, academia, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen youth inclusion in the transformation of agrifood systems.

Target Audience

The event is aimed at governments of Latin America and the Caribbean, policymakers, young people, and representatives of multilateral organizations, private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, and research institutions.