Young people from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered on 26 and 27 January for the Youth Forum for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems, a regional platform organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event brought together youth representatives from 16 countries to engage in dialogue, build capacities, strengthen collaboration networks, and reach consensus on joint proposals aimed at promoting better production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and improved livelihoods, with the principle of leaving no one behind.
A key outcome of the Forum was the development of a Regional Youth Declaration, capturing the priorities and demands of young people in the region. This declaration will be submitted as an official input to the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39), scheduled to take place in March in Brazil.
During the opening session, René Orellana Halkyer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized the strategic role of youth in transforming agrifood systems. He highlighted FAO’s commitment to creating spaces that elevate youth voices, channel their proposals, and ensure their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Halkyer also expressed gratitude to the Government of Brazil for supporting the Forum and acknowledged the contributions of young people who participated virtually in previous dialogues and surveys, helping to build a representative regional youth perspective.
The two-day Forum combined capacity development and preparatory dialogue. The first day focused on workshops, panels, and experience-sharing sessions to strengthen leadership, communication, and advocacy skills while fostering cooperation among youth organizations. The second day was dedicated to the Youth Preparatory Dialogue for LARC39, during which participants discussed key priorities related to food and agriculture. This process culminated in drafting the Regional Youth Declaration, reflecting the vision of young generations and providing a strategic input for both LARC39 and other governance spaces linked to agrifood systems transformation.
Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean represent roughly one in six people, many living in rural or peri-urban areas and actively participating in agrifood systems. Despite their engagement, they face structural barriers in accessing decent employment, land, finance, technical education, extension services, and digital technologies. In response, FAO has supported capacity development for approximately 1,000 young people from 25 countries, strengthening their leadership, advocacy, and access to technological tools. FAO has also fostered partnerships with parliaments, governments, and youth platforms, alongside training initiatives through FAO Campus and other innovative digital and territorial learning experiences.
For the first time in the region, the Forum enabled a youth-focused dialogue specifically aimed at transforming agrifood systems. The Regional Youth Declaration ensures that the voices, concerns, and proposals of young people are fully integrated into the preparatory processes and decision-making of LARC39. FAO reaffirmed its commitment to fostering meaningful youth participation, working with governments and partners to create more opportunities for the next generation and to build agrifood systems that are inclusive, resilient, efficient, and sustainable across Latin America and the Caribbean.
