Victor Muiru – Head Of Local Youth Action World Food Forum – FAO
Rome is all set to host and witness once again a gathering of over 7000 world experts, impassioned changemakers, and visionary leaders of all ages, including the youth, for the 2024 World Food Forum Flagship event.
Slated to be held from October 14 to 18, 2024, the World Food Forum event has over the years, remained a premier global agrifood platform to leverage the power of intergenerational collaboration, on the power of intergenerational cooperation, as well as partnerships and action across policy, science, innovation, education, culture and investment.
Moreover, it is also committed to supporting and growing youth initiatives in the agrifood sector, with a collective mission to co-create actionable solutions to advance agrifood systems transformation, across the globe.
Organized around three pillars – Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation, and Hand-in-Hand Investment, the 5-day World Food Forum flagship event is driving behind the thematic focus -“Good Food for All, for Today and Tomorrow”.
This light but deep-rooted theme put us all in the spotlight to further assess, how our actions are contributing to the future of food and the vision we have for the sustenance of the agrifood sector.
Throughout the week, attendees will participate in a Youth Forum where a Youth Assembly involving young people discussing specific policy topics and issues within agrifood systems will take center stage.
The Youth Forum will also feature live pitching sessions, workshops, and exhibitions that will highlight groundbreaking agricultural startups and youth-led initiatives, all aimed at driving innovation in the sector.
It will also include a Global School Assembly inspiring the next generation of agrifood enthusiasts, advocates, and practitioners.
Over 50 WFF National Youth Chapter leaders will also be present best practices in building all-inclusive national youth-led agrifood platforms that would be able to address localized challenges, within the agrifood systems.
Some other key events in the Forum include the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, a platform for national authorities to present investment opportunities to investors, development banks, the private sector, and donors.
The Forum will also involve the Rome Water Dialogue, where experts will address the pressing issue of water scarcity in agriculture and feature a dedicated session on Family Farming.
Within the week is also the slated celebrations of World Food Day. This global event will underscore the commitment to ending hunger and building resilient food systems that can withstand the challenges of tomorrow.
From Ghana, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, World Food Forum Ghana Chapter Lead and Agrihouse Foundation’s Founder, will mount the stage, together with other National Youth Chapter leads from Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, and Ireland to share an African regional perspective and highlight best practices in mobilizing youth-led action at the local level to achieve more sustainable agrifood systems.
“I am excited about this impactful opportunity to join, share, and engage extraordinary global leaders and youth at the WFF flagship event. It presents an opportunity to further highlight our work as the Ghana Chapter and our interventional modules at Agrihouse Foundation”.
I am equally excited about the learnings from this event and remain committed to leveraging the knowledge and networks acquired to implement local solutions that address the unique challenges our agricultural sector faces.
By investing in youth-led initiatives, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for food systems in our communities.” We are eager to build on these learnings to strengthen the World Food Forum Ghana Chapter – Alberta emphasised.
Adding his voice, the Steering Committee Chair for the World Food Forum Ghana Chapter, Anthony Aidoo said, “This event will provide us the unique opportunity to learn and grow the World Food Forum Ghana Chapter.
Our International Youth Day activity made a significant impact, with intensive media waves and we have a mandate to sustain the gains and impact.
He said the WFF Ghana Chapter is committed to inspiring the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation and sustainability in agriculture.
‘We believe that by involving young people in decision-making processes, we can ensure that their perspectives and innovations are reflected in the agrifood system that we develop,’ he added.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke