2024 engagements

In August 2024, the World Food Forum (WFF) organized a Thematic Youth Assembly, titled “Bridging agriculture and biodiversity: The role of agrifood systems in biodiversity conservation”, to discuss key topics including agriculture and ecosystem services, Indigenous knowledge, agroecology and rights-based conservation approaches. GYBN partnered with the WFF to ensure meaningful youth participation. To gather diverse inputs from young people worldwide, a global survey was launched during the Youth Assembly, gathering insights from young participants on KMGBF Target 10 and Target 22.

In October 2024, the WFF organized an official side event at COP16, titled “Youth leadership and agroecology: Catalyzing biodiversity conservation in agrifood systems”, to promote intergenerational dialogue and highlight the role of youth in shaping sustainable agrifood systems. During this side event, the findings of the global survey and the outcomes of the thematic assembly were presented by a WFF Youth Policy Board (YPB) member, emphasizing the critical role of agrifood systems in biodiversity conservation and advancing youth-driven policy solutions.

Key youth priorities that emerged from these engagements included:

• enabling youth participation in inclusive, rights-based decision-making processes, especially those affecting Indigenous, local and farming communities;
• promoting access to local markets and fair pricing for biodiversity-friendly and agroecological products to improve economic viability for smallholder farmers;
• uplifting the role of Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices in biodiversity conservation by empowering youth to serve as connectors and advocates – this includes respecting traditional knowledge systems, supporting intergenerational learning, and ensuring free, prior and informed consent when Indigenous techniques are integrated into mainstream conservation efforts; and
• bridging policy gaps between the Global North and South by amplifying youth voices in global biodiversity and agrifood governance.

Tentative 2025–2026 engagements

The engagements for 2025 will include capacity building, youth consultations and an in-person gathering during the WFF flagship event, where youth recommendations collected from the various consultations will be presented and built upon.

Among other topics, youth recommendations will be gathered on two key initiatives:

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative: Youth will be consulted in identifying how to strengthen and mainstream the role of youth and agrifood system in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) from the drafting process through to implementation and follow-up.
• The initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): The Youth Assembly will ensure that youth priorities are reflected in the Action Plan for the initiative, to be presented to the CBD membership in 2026.

Other activities will include mapping various youth actors working at the intersection of agrifood systems, and biodiversity conservation and restoration, gathering best practices and ensuring a meaningful and effective youth presence at various high-level meetings.