The 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) officially commenced in Rome with the Global Youth Forum Opening Ceremony at the FAO headquarters, bringing together thousands of young changemakers, government officials, scientists, and partners dedicated to shaping a better food future. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the pivotal role of youth in leading change, urging them to speak boldly, collaborate, and challenge one another to drive progress in sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. This year’s Forum, themed “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” coincides with FAO’s 80th anniversary and aligns with the organization’s Four Betters framework—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The Opening Ceremony also featured remarks from ministers from Botswana, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, and Türkiye, emphasizing intergenerational and cross-sector collaboration.
Now in its fifth edition, the World Food Forum has become a global, youth-led platform that accelerates action through three pillars: the Global Youth Action Initiative, the Science and Innovation Forum, and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. These pillars create a space for dialogue and collaboration, helping translate ideas into scalable solutions that contribute to the SDGs. The Global Youth Action Initiative has supported over 500 youth-led innovation projects and engaged nearly 30,000 young leaders from more than 180 countries in the past year, building a network of over 120,000 youth committed to sustainable agrifood systems. Through mentorship, consultations, and educational programs, young people are influencing policy, fostering innovation, and driving meaningful change in their communities.
The 2025 flagship week, running from 10 to 17 October, features over 300 events both at FAO headquarters and online. The Global Youth Forum Opening Ceremony alone gathered more than 8,000 participants in person and virtually, marking one of the largest youth-focused gatherings of the week. Throughout the Forum, participants engage in cultural, educational, and creative activities designed to celebrate youth leadership and collaboration. Key highlights include the Youth Concert, the Youth Assembly with 20 sessions producing youth statements and action plans, the Youth Film Festival exploring the links between food, culture, and sustainability, and the WFF School Assembly bringing students together to reaffirm their commitment to a better food future.
During the week, 38 new WFF National Youth Chapters are being launched, increasing the global total to 62 active chapters driving youth-led impact locally. Across discussions, innovation competitions, capacity-building activities, and showcases, the shared message remains clear: only by working “hand in hand” can better foods and a better future for all be achieved. The World Food Forum continues to demonstrate that when youth, science, innovation, and investment unite, transformative change is not just possible—it is already underway.
