The Global Youth Forum brings young people together in a safe and inclusive space to discuss, advocate and co-identify priorities and solutions on the way forward to catalyze the transformation of agrifood systems. Under the 2023 theme “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action”, the Global Youth Forum aims to:

• Find solutions for food security and strengthened agrifood resilience;
• Highlight the connections between the transformation of agrifood systems and global climate solutions; and
• Co-identify and share bold, actionable strategies to minimize and mitigate climate change impacts for our and future generations.

The Youth Forum will do this through (i) a global youth assembly for food policy, (ii) an innovation lab for young entrepreneurs and scientists, (iii) a food education symposium and school assembly, and (iv) motivational and cultural outreach and engagement activities. It will include youth from all spheres of society and all corners of the world, including marginalized youth such as Indigenous Youth and young farmers from least developed countries. 

The youth group of the FAO Land and Water Division will organize several side events throughout the forum for both in-person or virtual participation, click HERE to REGISTER to the side events, and you can find the participants guide here.

Details of our events can be found below.

Oct 17, 2023 9:00 AM CEST, Austria Room and Online via Zoom

Water is central to agriculture that accounts for 72 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. The transformation of agrifood systems will not be possible without integrated water resources management, which requires a renewed commitment to promote water-related initiatives to accelerate climate action and to achieve all SDGs.  The side event will highlight the importance of water for agrifood system transformation to scale up climate action and the involvement of youth in respective projects.

Oct 19, 2023 09:00-10:00 AM CEST, Online via Zoom 

With 9% of the world's arable land and 6% of the world's freshwater, China feeds nearly 20% of the world's population, setting an example of food self-sufficiency. China proposed an all-encompassing approach to national food security by following measures: implementing the balance control of arable land requisition and compensation, maintaining a minimum quantity of 120 million hectares of arable land, increasing the grain yield and the potential productivity of arable land by strengthening technology support. The side event organized by FAO, Ministry of Natural Resources of China (MNR) and China Land Surveying and Planning Institute (CLSPI) will share general ideas on building a diversified food supply system for food security.

Oct 19, 2023 10:00-11:00 AM CEST, the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology in Macau and Online via Zoom 

The pandemic reshapes people’s lifestyles and way of life, the attitudes, way of consuming food, and disposal of waste were largely transformed. However, the creative idea and design were not addressed enough through all steps of food action. The side event organized by FAO and Macau University of Science and Technology will discuss the possibilities of creative ideas and designs that can change the steps of food growth-supply-consuming-disposing; rethink how creative design creates opportunities for food in cities from the perspective of architectural design, landscape design, urban design, and environmental design; and discover possibilities of urban farming from a design perspective.

Oct 19, 2023 13:00-14:00 PM CEST, German Room and online via Zoom

Reliable access to safe and sufficient water and food creates an enabling environment for good health, yet tools for comparably measuring experiences with water and food insecurity have only recently been developed. During this side event, experts from diverse sectors will demonstrate how to use these novel tools and discuss how they have been implemented by governments, NGOs, and academics to advance progress toward improved agricultural productivity, nutritional well-being, and livelihoods.

Oct 19, 2023 13:00-14:30 PM CEST, FAO Atrium 

Composting is a simple and powerful way to improve the circularity of the food system. It connects soil, waste management, nutrient cycling, water availability, biodiversity, climate resilience, GHG, and human action. Composting is an opportunity to educate and discuss a key resource for action in the climate/food nexus and to keep motivation and optimism that are critical for ensuring future work towards sustainable food systems. It provides a hands-on activity inviting employees and visitors to actively contribute to a circular food system and accelerate climate action through improved soil health and waste management. Join us for the launch of a composting site at FAO headquarters promoted by the Global Soil Partnership in collaboration with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. Learn how composting can enhance soil health, water availability, and food waste management.