Young leaders share their voices at World Food Forum 2024

Rural youth are the next generation of forest and farm producers, and they are at the heart of a food-secure future. As participants heard at the World Food Forum at FAO Headquarters in Rome today, they have much to offer and are essential in global sustainable production efforts, with their decisions directly impacting agricultural and forest landscapes and ecosystems. 

Young rural farmers from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ghana shared their experiences at a side event entitled “Forest and farm champions: rural youth shaping tomorrow’s forests and farms”. The World Food Forum was an excellent opportunity for these rural youths to participate in international discussions on a global stage and to highlight the contributions they make to sustainable forest and farm production, environmental conservation and food security. 

Forest carbon champions managing forests sustainably

Participants heard from Olgah Hellens, founder of the iConserve Community Organization in Kisumu, Kenya and Grace Kimaru, founder of the Foster Green Organization in Nyeri, Kenya, about the pivotal role of youth in global forest monitoring and data collection using innovative new technologies. Both highlighted how young people, working closely with local communities, are driving environmental conservation efforts and playing a key role in sustainable forest management. 

Quoting the late Professor Wangari Maathai – the Kenyan social, environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement and was the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize – Olgah Hellens emphasized the importance of building the capacity of rural youth in forest management. “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower young people, you inform them and help them understand that these resources are their own that they must protect," she said. 

From 2021 to 2023, FAO and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) empowered ten early career volunteers – dubbed "Forest Carbon Champions" – through the IMPRESS project, which advanced measuring deforestation, restoration monitoring, and mangrove forest inclusion in Kenya. These young volunteers were involved in all the project activities andgained experience in forestry, wetlands, and natural resource management, engaging over 10,550 community members and planting more than 150,000 trees in forest restoration efforts. 

In 2023, with UK government support, FAO launched AIM4Forests, a five-year programme that aims to support forest monitoring based on modern monitoring technologies and technical innovation, as well as the use of space data and remote sensing. Building on the success of the Kenyan Forest Carbon Champions, AIM4Forests aims to involve young people in environmental conservation and replicate this excellent initiative in other countries, including Uganda, Ghana, and Zambia. 

"By empowering rural youth and communities to engage in tree growing, sustainable forestry and environmental conservation, we are nurturing not just the land, but a sustainable future for all," said Grace Kimaru. 

^{Olgah Hellens and Grace Kimaru, Forest Carbon Champions from Kenya.}

Innovation underpins sustainable forest and farm production

Abel Kamfwa of the Zambia National Forest Commodities Association and Ryan Korsah of Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers (GhaFFaP), whose organisations are both supported by the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), highlighted the need for robust support, training and innovative technologies for young farmers to harmonise forestry and agriculture production on the same land. They also stressed the importance of building advocacy and leadership capacities of the next generation of farmers to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. 

As Abel Kamfwa said, “The future of our forests and farms lies in the hands of our youth. By empowering them today, we are sowing the seeds for a sustainable and resilient tomorrow.” 

_{Abel Kamfwa of the Zambia National Forest Commodities Association}

Forest and farm producer organizations are ideal places for rural youth to build their future. By developing their skills in sustainable forest and farm production, business incubation and entrepreneurship, young people can grow their businesses and attract investors, which means they can further diversify their products and create income generating opportunities in their communities. Capacity development and training in sustainable production practices including agroforestry techniques, water and soil conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation, are also vital for a bright future for young farmers. 

Empowering the next generation of forest and farm producers through training and capacity development means they are more likely to stay and work on the family farm and not leave to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Identifying entry points that appeal to young people – such as by involving them in the management, communication and marketing of forest and farm products and value chains – is also an important way to increase their participation in forest and farm producer organizations. 

To sum up in the words of Ryan Korsah, “We’re not just planting crops—we’re growing resilience, innovation, and the future."