Session 2 - Digital Gaps in Rural Territories: Diagnosis and Institutional Responses

Background

The Technical Regional Platform for Family Farming, lead by Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations (FAO), has promoted, since 2023, the Cycle of Technical Exchanges as a space for dialogue, cooperation and learning between countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and other regions. Following two editions focused on family farming registries and public procurement, a third edition will address a structural and intergenerational challenge that defines the future of agrifood systems: the inclusion and participation of rural youth in family farming.

The first session, titled “Digital technologies in support of rural youth: Access, adoption and use of technological tools in family farming”, organized jointly with the Specialized Meeting on Family Farming (REAF) of Mercosur and the youth initiative of the World Food Forum, analyzed the opportunities and challenges to strengthen productivity, improve access to information, financing, and networks through the use of technology and digital devices.

To continue this discussion, the second session will address the digital barriers faced by young people linked to family farming in rural territories.

These gaps, which represent a competitive disadvantage and may limit the permanence and development of rural youth in the sector, are not only reflected in the lack of connectivity infrastructure, but also in limited digital skills, the availability of contents and services adapted to the agricultural context, and inequalities in access among different population groups.

Objectives

• To learn about policies and national programs, and other initiatives aimed at expanding rural connectivity and promoting digital inclusion, while assessing their effective reach and the implementation challenges faced in remote territories or areas with a strong presence of family farming.
• To explore collaboration mechanisms between the public sector, private sector and civil society organizations to bridge these gaps.

Target audience

Government representatives, family farming and youth organizations, academic institutions, FAO officials and people interested in learning more about these topics.