How Youths can Act as Catalysts in Food Systems Transformation

Our existing food systems are broken. Despite a global production surplus, 3.1 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2023 (1).  Food systems contribute to malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty, and environmental degradation (2). Moreover, with the population continuing to grow, food demand is projected to increase by 50 to 110% over the coming decade (3). Without significant changes in food production, processing and consumption, the crisis we currently face will only worsen for future generations.

Steering Transformation

Recognizing this urgent need to transform food systems, in 2021, the UN Secretary General rallied member states to join the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UN FSS). This event brought together a vast array of stakeholders to deliberate on the optimal pathways for transformation. The Summit was the end results of an 18-month process, the National Dialogues, where all UN Member States and constituencies around the world – claimed to include thousands of food producers, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, youth and the UN system – endeavored to create a national plan to transform food systems – the National Pathways (4).

However, the implementation of the National Pathways has stalled globally, and the summit has been plagued by constant criticism.The core of the criticism targets the principle of “multistakeholderism” employed by the UN FSS (5). While this principle opens the door to any interested party, multiple grassroots organizations argue that it failed to prioritize the voices of those most affected by food insecurity, such as peasants, Indigenous Peoples, marginalized communities, and youth (6). Equally, the UN FSS and particularly the UN FSS Stocktaking Moment in 2023 have been criticized for not being able to establish a global governance frameworktowards food system transformation.In sum, there is limited progress to report on how much countries have achieved in transforming their food systems; the endeavor still necessitates universally agreed-upon targets and indicators (7).

Can the Youth Fill the Gap?

With initiatives like Fridays for Future, youth involvement has been crucial in highlighting and mobilizing climate change action and awareness both on a national and an international stage. Can the same be applied to food systems transformation? Can youths be considered agents of change?

The UN Food Systems Coordination (UNFSC) Hub, established after the UN FSS to guide the collaborative efforts between the different UN institutions towards food systems transformation, is convinced that this is possible (8). Starting with the need to develop new skills to cope with the complexity of food systems and cross-cutting themes, youth are already involved in food systems and are seen as agents of change, able to adapt and incorporate new thinking. Indeed, the UN FSS Stocktake Moment +2 Report claims that youth-led initiatives and partnerships have helped to enhance food access, promote regenerative agricultural practices, and foster social justice within the food system. (9)

Despite the approval of youth involvement and action in food system transformation, and with their involvement in the formulation of National Pathways being often highlighted, in the National Pathways of most countries, youth tend to appear (when they do appear at all) as a subgroup without any targeted policies. Indeed, in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean, the phrase '- and youth' is often used, yet only 8 out of 33 countries have developed youth-focused initiatives (10), even though 20% of the total population in the region is between 15 and 24 years old. (11)

In response to this gap, the Hub sought to convene and empower young leaders already involved in food systems transformation. Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in coordination with FAO regional offices, in April and May 2024 the Hub gathered around 60 young leaders in Ghana, Thailand, and Chile in the first Youth Leadership Programme (YLP).

Dual Responsibility

The group, consisting mostly of people aged between 18 – 30, was selected based on their active work in their country's food systems. The YLP focused on equipping young leaders with the capacity to effectively implement science-based solutions, understanding that cross-sectoral knowledge sharing and interaction with different stakeholders is necessary to tackle the complex challenges inherent to food systems. More importantly, it aimed to directly connect the designated youth representative to their National Convenor, the representative chosen by that country to implement its UN FSS National Pathway.

Young people, diverse in their backgrounds, carry the dual responsibility of balancing the preservation of traditions while embracing innovative frameworks. At the YLP, this was prominently highlighted. On the one hand, youth-led initiatives in countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua focus on preserving ancestral knowledge and sustainable agroforestry practices, mobilized among rural and indigenous communities.

On the other hand, there is a notable inclination among youth to adopt advanced methodologies and sustainable management techniques, as well as a keen interest in developing rural spaces beyond traditional agricultural activities. Examples include agro-processing and value addition entrepreneurship with a focus on social impact in Surinam, and the adoption of innovative frameworks in St. Lucia to combat soil erosion, improve soil health, and enhance productivity in the face of climate change challenges.

By involving youth more centrally in food systems governance, the YLP should assist in the implementation of National Pathways, formulate better policies that can more adequately target youth concerns, and create an international network of young food systems actors mobilizing transformation on a global scale. These are commendable yet optimistic objectives, which leads to the question: Can youth mobilize the transformation of food systems at national and international levels?

A Refocus on the Caribbean

The final stage of the Youth Leadership Programme convened regional youth representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in Santiago, Chile in May 2024. During the week-long event with almost half of the participants coming from Caribbean countries, a serious omission was identified: the lack of knowledge and representation of Caribbean nations in the global discussion on food system transformation.

This disparity prompted critical reflection. Often, the Caribbean Islands are incorrectly assumed to share the same realities as the rest of Latin America. Island representatives highlighted that this is not the case. For example, most Caribbean nations had not conducted a National Dialogue prior to the UN FSS and thus lacked National Pathways. Additionally, while Latin American countries have strong youth organizations and have taken steps towards integrating youth topics into governance processes, Caribbean representatives noted that youth representation is much harder in the Caribbean. As the representative from St. Lucia stated: “We in the Caribbean need to fight to be heard, and even then, nothing gets done.”

The same is true for the Dominican Republic. Although the Caribbean nation has formulated a National Pathway, youth concerns and policies specifically targeting youth are non-existent. Youth were not directly involved in the formulation of the National Pathway. Despite a legal requirement to create local youth councils at the provincial level since 2000, this has yet to happen (12). Having such institutions could assist in identifying how challenges facing food systems not only can affect youth disproportionately but how youth can be part of the solution.

Indeed, one of the main pathways is closely linked to generational concerns.  The Dominican Republic has recognized that ensuring adequate knowledge in food handling is central to transforming food systems effectively (13). A reason for this gap is that most extension officers are seniors who hesitate to retire due to the loss of benefits such as public health insurance. This limits the adoption of innovative and sustainable farming methods by new generations, while also limiting young people, especially rural youth, from entering the extension services workforce.  

Enhancing exchanges between different stakeholders and actively recognizing their intrinsic value – such as the youth's ability to adopt new ways of thinking – while incorporating their concerns into policymaking, could greatly benefit the National Pathway.

Since the conclusion of the Programme, initial steps have been taken by the National Convenor and youth representatives of the Dominican Republic to reassess the current National Pathway. This aims to incorporate a much-needed youth focus, along with cross-sectoral knowledge and systems thinking, to identify and address additional issues. The YLP has not only provided a platform for exchange but also the institutional backing of the UN. Furthermore, the representatives from the LAC region have committed themselves to ongoing collaboration, with a key goal of emphasizing the unique concerns of the Caribbean.

The Kenyan Context

Across the globe in Kenya, youth make up about 70% of the population and hold the key to the realization of its strategic goals aligned to the UN-Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The youth are not only energetic, but also creative and innovative – they are vital in crafting solutions for developmental challenges. Kenya’s National Convenor has charted a way forward for improved youth engagement, which has only been reinforced by the YLP. This followed a meeting with youth leaders supported by the UNFSC Hub, with the goal of crafting, implementing, and showcasing innovative youth-led solutions during the UN FSS + 4 in 2025. An example of changes that can be directly linked to youth involvement in food systems in Kenya is value addition through agro-processing of food waste and loss, as well as increased food production through improved hydroponics systems.

Kenyan youths in 2024 established a chapter of the World Food Forum (WFF) (14). Launched in 2021, WFF is an independent, youth-led global network facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO). The WFF serves as the premier global forum to harness the passion and power of youth to identify solutions and incite positive action for agrifood systems. Currently in its initial stages, there is great enthusiasm to get the WFF Kenya Chapter up and running. Once fully established, the chapter will engage not only with the UN systems, but also with government, development partners and other key stakeholders.

It is critical to involve the youth while implementing National Pathways to ensure that the plans truly reflect their concerns. In Nigeria, young people hosted the National Youth Food Systems Exploratory Dialogues and were also co-opted as members of the National Task Team to work on the Priority Action Plan and Implementation Strategy for the National Food Systems Transformation Plan. As a result, the recommendations of these dialogues were taken up by the National Convenor and informed the National Pathways. These recommendations were also put into practice at the grassroots level with support from the government.

Going Forward: Leveraging International Platforms for Youth Empowerment

Both settings highlighted above illustrate the ongoing difficulties in adequately integrating youth as agents of change in efforts to transform food systems. This goes beyond merely having a seat at the table; it involves genuinely hearing, exploring, and recognizing youth concerns as central to the problems facing food systems. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these issues and enhancing collaboration among different stakeholders are essential steps towards effective solutions.

Mobilizing the transformative potential of youth is central to confronting the challenges ahead. Their heightened willingness to collaborate, ability to mobilize, and adaptability to new circumstances and thinking make youth effective facilitators of transformation. They continuously seek to improve existing methods, scrutinizing traditional approaches and questioning their efficacy.

The UN FSS provided a platform to tackle the challenges of our food systems head-on, bringing renewed momentum for sustainable food systems transformation. Despite this, the process and most participating countries missed a critical opportunity by keeping youth at arm's length – talking about them without truly involving them. Renewed commitments at the highest levels have recognized this gap, but significant efforts are still needed. Initiatives like the YLP and WFF highlight the need to invest in younger generations to mobilize food systems transformation and hold decision-makers accountable for unsustainable policies. However, follow-ups and continuous engagement are necessary as youth require ongoing support to maximize their impact.

Contributor: 

Elizabeth Mwende, Kenyan youth representative from the Stakeholder Engagement and Networking Advisory (SENA) Group of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.

Footnotes

_{1) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2023). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a69f5540-6ee7-43f4-a8ef-9eb7b3e7b677/content/state-food-security-and-nutrition-2023/executive-summary.html}

_{2) von Braun, J., Afsana, K., Fresco, L. O., & Hassan, M. (2021). Food systems: Seven priorities to end hunger and protect the planet. Nature, 597(7874), 28–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02331-x}

_{3) Fujimori, S., Hasegawa, T., Takahashi, K., Dai, H., Liu, J. Y., & Fujimori, S. (2021). A meta-analysis of projected global food demand and population at risk of hunger for the period 2010–2050. Nature Food, 2, 353–360. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00322-9}

_{4) United Nations. (2021). Member States Guidance Note UN Food Systems Summit . United Nations. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2021/09/unfss_guidance_note_sep1_final.pdf}

_{5) Transnational Institute. (2019). Multistakeholderism: A Critical Look. Workshop report - Amsterdam, March 2019. Retrieved from https://www.tni.org/en/publication/multistakeholderism-a-critical-look}

_{6) M. C., Duncan, J., & Claeys, P. (2021). Reconfiguring Food Systems Governance: The UNFSS and the Battle Over Authority and Legitimacy. Society for International Development, 181-191. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/world/hundreds-grassroots-organisations-oppose-un-food-systems-summit}

_{7)  Hoffmann, et al. (2023). The unfss+2 stocktaking moment: tracking progress amidst absent global targets? African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. Retrieved from https://publications.zalf.de/publications/1445e89a-2904-4876-bb36-e136745abfd7.pdf}

_{8)  Youth Leadership Program. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/hub-solution/youth-leadership-program/en}

_{9)  Stakeholders’ Contribution Document. (2023). UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment “Shadow Report to the UNFSS+2”. 4 July 2023. Retrieved from https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/docs/unfoodsystemslibraries/stocktaking-moment/stakeholders/unfss-2-stakeholder-contribution-report.pdf}

_{10) FAO. (2024). Presentation at the location: Food System Transformation Pathways in LAC. General description with a focus on youth Food Systems. May 2024.}

_{11) United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, coordinated by the Focal Point on Youth, UNDESA. (n.d.). REGIONAL OVERVIEW: LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-regional-eclac.pdf}

_{12) Rodríguez, D. (2022, February 24). Crearán consejos para empoderamiento e integración juvenil. El Caribe. Retrieved from https://www.elcaribe.com.do/panorama/pais/crearan-consejos-para-empoderamiento-e-integracion-juvenil/#:~=Conforme%20a%20la%20ley%204900%2C%20la%20naturaleza%20de,con%20los%20distintos%20representantes%20congresionales%20de%20la%20provincia}

_{13) UN Food Systems Hub. (2024). Dialogues and Pathways. Retrieved from https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/dialogues-and-pathways/en}

_{14)  World Food Forum. (2024. Retrieved from https://www.world-food-forum.org/legal/terms-of-reference/en}