High Tech, Next Gen: The future of sustainable farms

25 February 2022, Washington, D.C. - Technologies and innovations in the agriculture sector are growing at an exponential rate, with new digital solutions to make farming more efficient. To explore how youth are tapping into innovations in the agriculture sector, FAO North America and Planet Forward convened a webinar with young entrepreneurs and experts in a discussion with Frank Sesno, Founding Director at Planet Forward, a media initiative of the George Washington Univiery School of Media and Public Affairs. 

Mustapha Diyaol Haqq, a young mango farmer and entrepreneur in Ghana, shared his experience in agriculture noting the high barrier to entry, especially for youth who may not have access to land and opportunities. He illustrated that access to land can become a ”tug of war’’ between the government and local chiefs, adding that family and the private sector also play a role. Haqq taught himself how to code as a teenager and eventually co-founded Okuafo Foundation, a social enterprise providing farmers across West Africa with low-cost precision agriculture services through real-time AI-powered early pest detection through a smartphone application. He pointed out that the app can help farmers cut down on pesticide and fertilizer use. Haqq believes that through the adoption of technology in agriculture, youth will become more curious about exploring non-traditional pathways into the sector. 

Bev Flatt, co-owner of a 170 hectares family farm of diversified livestock operation in Tennessee, shared her unique entry into farming, as someone who had not grown up on a farm. Flatt noted that access to land was her first barrier to farming and considered it the main challenge for youth globally. "Using technology is an entry point to interest people in the industry, but it is short-sighted for bringing the next generation in. Getting access to land, resources and financing are what is needed before you can implement technology on the farm,’’ said Flatt. Innovations in the agriculture sector are an investment in sustainability since ’’farmers are the original stewards of the land,” added Flatt. 

Alina Gerke, a Communications and Outreach Specialist at FAO, highlighted the Organization’s work to prioritize the role of youth. The FAO Youth Committee was established to foster career development and monitor youth inclusion in technical projects. "We want to work with youth,” said Gerke when addressing how youth can find their way into international organizations. When asked about the role youth should play, Gerke said, "what we need to raise with senior experts and government is that there are a lot of people who want to be heard, and they have bright ideas about sustainability and understand the issues in a better way sometimes than older generations.”

The timely discussion highlighted global perspectives on opportunities and challenges for youth to enter the agriculture sector. While technology can attract youth into the sector, access to land, finance, and resources remains a hurdle for the young generation to enter the agriculture sector.  

Resources:  

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