Youth from Latin America and the Caribbean meet in Brasília to drive the transformation of agrifood systems

Young people from Latin America and the Caribbean participated on 26 and 27 January in the Youth Forum for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems, a regional space for dialogue, capacity-building and collective action convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Forum brought together youth representatives from 16 countries across the region with the aim of expanding knowledge, strengthening collaboration networks and reaching consensus on joint proposals to advance better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

As a key outcome, participants developed a Regional Youth Declaration, which captures their priorities and demands and will be presented as a key input to the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39), to be held in March in Brazil.

During the opening session, René Orellana Halkyer, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the strategic role of youth in transforming agrifood systems, stating:

“Our commitment is to continue creating spaces that elevate youth voices, channel their proposals and ensure their effective participation in decision-making processes.”

Orellana Halkyer expressed special thanks to the Government of Brazil for its support and commitment to making the Forum possible, as well as to the young people who participated both in person and virtually. In this regard, he noted that more than 300 young people took part in the previous virtual dialogues, and nearly 200 contributed through a regional survey, helping to build a diverse and representative regional youth perspective.

Two days of dialogue and capacity development

The Forum was structured around two complementary days. The first day focused on youth capacity development through workshops, interactive panels and experience-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening leadership, communication and advocacy skills, while consolidating cooperation among youth organizations.

The second day was dedicated to the Youth Preparatory Dialogue towards LARC39, during which participants collectively discussed their main priorities related to food and agriculture. This process culminated in the drafting of the Regional Youth Declaration, which reflects the visions of the new generations and will be presented during the civil society consultation of LARC39, while also serving as a strategic input for other governance spaces linked to agrifood systems transformation.

Youth as key actors for sustainable development

In Latin America and the Caribbean, young people represent approximately one in six people, with a significant proportion living in rural or peri-urban areas and actively participating in agrifood systems. However, they continue to face structural barriers related to access to decent employment, land, finance, technical education, extension services and digital technologies.

In recent years, FAO has supported the capacity development of around 1,000 young people from 25 countries across the region, strengthening their leadership, advocacy and access to technological tools. FAO has also promoted partnerships with parliaments, governments and youth platforms within civil society, as well as training initiatives through tools such as FAO Campus and innovative digital and territorial learning experiences.

A contribution to LARC39

For the first time in the region, this process enabled a dialogue specifically focused on youth as key actors in the transformation of agrifood systems. The Regional Youth Declaration developed during the Forum seeks to ensure that the voices, concerns and proposals of the new generations are fully integrated into the preparatory processes and decision-making spaces of the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

FAO reaffirmed its commitment to continue fostering spaces for meaningful youth participation, working alongside governments and partners to create more opportunities for new generations and to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems across the region.