Although progress has been made in reducing poverty and hunger, recent conflicts, pandemic and climate change expose millions of people in the world to the risk of reversals on development gains. Given that these challenges will most impact the next generation, we believe that it is imperative to empower the youth of today to create a better food future for all.

Building on last year’s success, this year the World Food Forum's (WFF) flagship event comprised the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. These three interlinked fora advanced bold and actionable solutions to catalyze the transformation of our agrifood systems in light of the current challenges and crises, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the current and next generation and their combined ingenuity in science, technology and innovation – and investments in key areas of food and agriculture.

The WFF flagship event took place from 17 to 21 October at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy and virtually. The week fostered dialogue and debate among relevant stakeholders, ranging from the young and the youthful, farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, policymakers, agri-investors and scientists, tuning in from the four corners of the world, all with one goal: moving the needle for food security to achieve a better food future for all, leaving no-one behind.

The WFF Global Youth Forum focused on the theme “Healthy Diets. Healthy Planet.”, raising young people’s awareness of the connection between climate change and access to safe and nutritious food and healthy diets, to spark action.

The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum provided a platform for national authorities, global and national public and private entities, along with multilateral development banks and donors to discuss opportunities to finance the Hand-in-Hand Initiative.

Finally, the Science and Innovation Forum highlighted the crucial role of science, technology and innovation in transforming our agrifood systems and explore scientific advances and the opportunities and risks associated with them. The Science and Innovation Forum promoted action on the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy that was endorsed by the FAO Council in June 2022. The goal is to help strengthen FAO’s support for Members to build efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.