Agrifood Systems AGCO Foundation & FAO Partner to Empower Youth in Agrifood Systems
The Agrifood Systems AGCO Agriculture Foundation (“the Foundation”), a private foundation dedicated to addressing hunger and promoting sustainable agricultural development, has announced a significant new partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This collaboration underscores the Foundation’s commitment to supporting youth engagement in the agricultural sector by fostering skill development and knowledge-sharing for a more sustainable agrifood system.
As part of this initiative, the Foundation is providing a USD 300,000 grant to bolster the World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Skills Hub program. This program aims to strengthen the skills and capacities of young people, particularly in the Global South, in order to equip them with the necessary tools and expertise to contribute to sustainable agrifood systems. Established in 2021, the WFF is an independent global network of partners hosted by the FAO. It serves as a premier platform that actively seeks to shape agrifood systems to create a more sustainable and resilient food future, aligning with the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The WFF’s Global Youth Action Initiative plays a key role in mobilizing young people by focusing on their engagement, empowerment, and employment, thereby driving meaningful action towards transforming agrifood systems worldwide.
Roger Batkin, Board Chair of the AGCO Agriculture Foundation, emphasized the importance of involving young people in the agricultural sector, stating, “Attracting young people to agriculture is essential to create a future to sustainably feed the world. Through strategic partnerships and programs, our Foundation is helping a new generation of agricultural leaders be ready to tackle the challenges of agricultural and food systems. Our collaboration with the FAO World Food Forum affirms our commitment to building skills and capacity, cultivating knowledge, and creating pathways for young people to meaningfully engage in agriculture.”
The Foundation’s investment in this initiative highlights its broader mission to foster sustainable agricultural development and ensure long-term food security. By focusing on youth development, the program seeks to address some of the key challenges that prevent young people from pursuing careers in agriculture, such as limited access to education, training, and financial resources. Through this partnership, the Foundation and FAO will work together to bridge these gaps and create opportunities that empower young individuals to take leadership roles in agrifood systems.
Kazuki Kitaoka, FAO Director for the Office of Youth and Women, also underscored the importance of this initiative, stating, “Formal education programs often fall behind in preparing young people for leadership roles in the various sectors of the agrifood system. We are excited to partner with the AGCO Agriculture Foundation in developing innovative approaches that offer knowledge and skills, equipping youth with the capacities they need to drive a positive transformation of our agrifood systems.”
One of the core components of the Youth Skills Hub program is its emphasis on evidence-based, demand-driven skill development. This means that the program will focus on identifying the most relevant skills required by young people in the agricultural sector and ensuring that they have access to quality training and education. By creating an evidence base, the initiative aims to align educational programs with the real-world needs of agrifood systems, ensuring that young people are better prepared to meet the challenges of the industry.
In addition to providing education and training, the initiative will also focus on increasing young people’s access to knowledge and resources. This includes offering mentorship opportunities, facilitating networking events, and providing access to digital tools and technology that can help them succeed in the agricultural sector. By leveraging digital innovation, the program aims to modernize agrifood systems and make them more efficient and sustainable.
Another key aspect of the program is empowering young people to become knowledge brokers within their communities. This means that participants in the program will not only benefit from learning new skills themselves but will also be encouraged to share their knowledge with others. By fostering a culture of peer-to-peer learning and mentorship, the initiative aims to create a ripple effect that will lead to broader improvements in agricultural practices and food production within local communities.
The need to invest in youth development within the agricultural sector has never been more pressing. Agriculture faces numerous challenges, including climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and evolving market demands. To address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. The partnership between the AGCO Agriculture Foundation and FAO represents a proactive approach to addressing these issues by ensuring that young people are not only prepared for the future but are also active participants in shaping it.
By supporting the WFF Youth Skills Hub program, the Foundation is helping to create a pipeline of young agricultural leaders who will drive sustainable change. These individuals will be better equipped to implement sustainable farming practices, improve food production efficiency, and advocate for policies that support the agricultural sector. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the FAO and other global organizations working toward food security and sustainable development.
Furthermore, the program’s focus on the Global South is particularly significant, as this region is home to a large and growing population of young people. By providing targeted support to youth in these areas, the initiative aims to reduce barriers to entry into the agricultural sector and create opportunities for economic growth and development. As young people gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive in agriculture, they can contribute to strengthening food systems, reducing poverty, and enhancing resilience to environmental and economic shocks.
Ultimately, the AGCO Agriculture Foundation’s commitment to youth development in agriculture through this partnership with FAO reflects its broader vision of a world where hunger is prevented and food security is achieved through sustainable practices. By investing in education, skills training, and leadership development, the Foundation is not only supporting individual young people but also contributing to the overall transformation of global agrifood systems.
As the WFF Youth Skills Hub program moves forward, it is expected to serve as a model for similar initiatives worldwide. By demonstrating the impact of strategic investments in youth development, this initiative has the potential to inspire other organizations, governments, and stakeholders to take action in supporting young people in agriculture. The AGCO Agriculture Foundation and FAO’s partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and ensuring a sustainable future for food production and agricultural development.
