Branching out: the role of youth in advancing agroforestry practices

The World Food Forum flagship event 2023, held on 16–20 October in Rome, Italy, marked a significant turning point in global agriculture and food system transformation. Hiba Mohammad and Satia Ras, two representatives from the Mediterranean Youth Task Force (MYTF) participated in this important event. The MYTF co-hosted a side event with the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), discussing the theme “Youth-Led Agroforestry”. 

Prominent young speakers unveiled the potential of agroforestry and its crucial role in addressing pressing global challenges. Here is a glimpse of the takeaways from each intervention: 

1. Agroforestry and Geographic Information Systems integration: Mohamed Samy Agamy, forest data analyst at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), underscored the transformative potential of integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with agroforestry practices, highlighting the importance of technology in advancing sustainable practices.  
2. Disagreement on the Indonesian programme “Food Estates”: Sekar Ayu Woro Yunita, a master’s student at the University of Göttingen, Germany, and Vice-President of IFSA, addressed the controversial topic of the “Food Estates” programme as a solution to the food crisis in Indonesia. She championed alternative, more inclusive approaches that honour the rights and traditions of Indigenous Peoples’ communities. 
3. Post-COVID-19 Economic Boost in Tourism: Rizka Afif, the head of the World Food Forum subcommission in IFSA, discussed strategies to reinvigorate the tourism sector within forest communities in Indonesia following the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the synergy between sustainable tourism, economic growth and environmental conservation. 
4. Challenges in agroforestry: Amina Aden Maalim, a senior forestry research scientist and consultant at the Kenya Forestry Institute (KEFRI), highlighted the challenges faced in Wajir, Kenya, especially regarding fruit-tree and food-crop agroforestry. She emphasized the crucial issue of water scarcity and the urgent need for innovative solutions in this respect. 
5. Traditional land restoration: Yotmatha Raleng, an Indigenous young activist from Manipur, India, and the coordinator of the Rewilding project by the Balipara Foundation, praised the value of Indigenous knowledge and traditional methods in land restoration. Her innovative work in revitalizing the local food system through herbal teas and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples’ communities exemplifies the transformative power of traditional practices in agroforestry. 
6. Agroforestry in Western Africa: Vitor V. Brito, a forest engineer from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, shared insights into agroforestry in Western Africa, and emphasized the pivotal role of the voluntary carbon market in promoting sustainable agroforestry practices in the region. 

Key points from the panel discussion 

• Agroforestry should be recognized as a unique and enduring production system distinct from conventional agriculture. 
• The need for agroforestry practices that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable should be emphasized. 
• The promising future of agroforestry was highlighted, with youth recognized as the torchbearers, able to continue and expand the work of senior professionals in agroforestry. This underlines the promising career prospects that there could be in agroforestry, affirming the field’s potential for creating enduring and meaningful change. 

To witness agroforestry flourish on a larger scale and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future, we need to challenge our perceptions of it – both past and present – and rethink how we implement it. This is not a mere short-term solution but a generational commitment. The challenge lies in aligning different generations to fulfil the vision of agroforestry. The MYTF event at the World Food Forum 2023 thus demonstrated the active role of youth in agroforestry.  

By sharing our stories and accomplishments, we trust that we inspired more young people. In conclusion, by showcasing the work of young agroforesters, we seek to foster collaboration across generations within agroforestry. 

*This is an article drafted by the Mediterranean Youth Task Force (MYTF) members and represents the views and opinions of its authors. 

Hiba Mohammad (MYTF) and Satia Ras (MYTF)