2024 engagements

In 2024, the Youth Assembly hosted pivotal events to advance youth participation in the bioeconomy. These included the Thematic Youth Assembly session on bridging youth visions for the bioeconomy, held as a side event during the Global Bioeconomy Summit in Nairobi, alongside a dedicated side event at the 29th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG). Both events sparked dynamic dialogue on youth-led solutions and reinforced youth involvement in shaping the future of bioeconomy systems.

Key youth priorities that emerged from these engagements included:

• creating policies that prioritize investment in bioeconomy education, vocational training and skills development programmes for preparing young leaders to drive sustainable transformation;
• building stronger partnerships across sectors, including agriculture, energy and forestry, to foster innovation and knowledge-sharing in bioeconomy practices;
• establishing funding mechanisms, mentorship opportunities and accessible platforms that enable meaningful participation in bioeconomy initiatives; and
• creating inclusive and adaptive policies that reflect the diverse needs of youth, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, while remaining adaptable to emerging innovations and technologies.

Tentative 2025–2026 engagements

Building on the progress made in 2024, the 2025 Youth Assembly will focus on advancing youth leadership in bioeconomy-driven agrifood systems transformation. This includes strengthening youth engagement and deepening discussions on bioenergy, which is a critical component for enhancing food production sustainability, reducing waste and improving energy efficiency across agrifood value chains.

The Youth Assembly will also prioritize translating the commitments from the Youth Statement on Bioeconomy into concrete actions that promote more resilient, circular and inclusive agrifood systems. To support this, capacity-building efforts will focus on equipping youth with practical skills, including training on Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), to design and implement bioeconomy strategies that enhance resource efficiency and minimize environmental impacts across food and agriculture sectors.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Youth Assembly will develop a youth-driven roadmap that outlines key engagement opportunities and policy priorities. This roadmap will ensure young people remain central to shaping sustainable agrifood systems, positioning youth as key innovators and decision-makers in building a more equitable, climate-resilient and food-secure future.