YALAFAST Cohort 2 brings together 70 young leaders to drive agrifood systems transformation

Seventy young leaders from 55 countries gathered in Abu Dhabi from 5 to 9 October 2026 for the second cohort of the Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood Awareness and Systems Transformation (YALAFAST), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s (FAO) Regional Office of the Near East and North Africa (RNE) flagship youth leadership programme under the Regional Leadership Academy.

Held alongside the Global Food Security Summit, YALAFAST Cohort 2 brought together participants from government, the private sector, academia and civil society for five days of leadership development, policy dialogue, mentorship and collaborative problem-solving.

Building on the first cohort held in Rabat, Morocco, in 2025, the programme expanded from 50 participants representing 16 countries to 70 participants from 55 countries, becoming the first cohort to welcome young leaders from beyond the Near East and North Africa. Responding to feedback from the first edition, Cohort 2 placed greater emphasis on hands-on learning, innovation, artificial intelligence, mentorship and networking, connecting global agrifood challenges with practical solutions.

With agrifood systems employing around 44 percent of working youth worldwide, the programme underscored the importance of empowering young people as active partners in transforming food systems.

From learning to action

A central highlight was the YALAFAST hackathon, where nine teams developed and pitched solutions across three areas: technology and digitalization, resilient food markets, and inclusive agrifood systems.

The leadership lectures were among the most highly rated elements of the programme, featuring senior UN leaders and agrifood experts. The lectures connected participants with real-world leadership experiences and strategic perspectives on food security, resilience and the future of agrifood systems.

The winning proposals focused on improving water efficiency through smart technologies, helping farmers manage saline irrigation water, and reducing post-harvest mango losses through solar-powered cold storage and circular approaches. Other teams explored early warning systems for food-price risks, climate preparedness and digital tools to connect farmers with markets. The hackathon demonstrated how young leaders from diverse backgrounds can turn shared challenges into innovative ideas with potential for real-world application.

Participants also explored food security policy, strategic foresight and agrifood systems resilience through interactive simulations, expert-led sessions and engagement with the Global Food Security Summit.

“Young people must be at the centre of efforts to transform agrifood systems. Their ideas, energy and willingness to challenge conventional approaches are essential to building food systems that are more innovative, resilient, inclusive and sustainable,” said Dr. AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa. “Through initiatives such as YALAFAST, FAO is investing in the leadership needed to turn this ambition into action.”  

Partnerships and a commitment to sustainability

Support from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) helped connect the programme with the country's broader food security and agrifood innovation landscape. Participants visited the institutions’ pavilions alongside FAO’s at the Summit, gaining further opportunities to engage with food security priorities and initiatives.

The programme also included a field visit to Elite Agro Holding, where participants learned about agricultural operations and planted 70 trees, one for each participant, linking the cohort’s discussions on sustainability with action on the ground.

“YALAFAST is about moving beyond discussing the challenges facing agrifood systems to developing solutions together. By bringing young leaders from different countries and professional backgrounds into one learning community, we are building connections that can continue long after the programme ends. Our priority now is to help promising ideas progress and sustain the network these young leaders have created,” said Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar, FAO Subregional Coordinator for the GCC States and Yemen and FAO Representative to the UAE.

Looking ahead

Cohort 2 received an overall participant rating of 4.82 out of 5, up from 4.75 for the first cohort, reflecting the value of the programme’s evolving approach.

With two cohorts completed, YALAFAST is building an international network of young leaders committed to agrifood systems transformation. Looking ahead to Cohort 3, FAO aims to sustain engagement through continued learning and networking opportunities and support efforts to advance promising hackathon ideas with programme partners.

By combining leadership development, technical knowledge and practical collaboration, YALAFAST continues to strengthen the role of young people in shaping more resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.

FAO thanks MOCCAE and ADAFSA for their support, all speakers, mentors and jury members for their contributions, Elite Agro Holding for hosting the field visit, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism for the closing evening, and all participants for their engagement and commitment.