Nevertheless, with the continued call to make agriculture attractive to the youth and to get them more involved, the narrative is gradually changing. The WFF 2023 was a demonstration that young leaders are not only interested but actively engaged in offering innovative solutions and demanding a seat at the decision-making table. We must integrate their voices into policymaking processes and endorse their innovative ideas and focus on abundant opportunities in the agri-food sector, rather than dwelling solely on the challenges. The youth have understood the problem and they need their voices heard, they are calling for the implementation of sustainable policies that will empower and support young farmers. Additionally, the youth need to hold leaders accountable, going beyond saying they need to be involved but engage in how they can be involved.
It is also clear that private sector investment is a critical component for achieving the desired results, but it hinges on governments providing an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive. Effective collaboration between different partners is pivotal in the advancement of the transformation of agri-food systems. No single entity can achieve this transformation in isolation.

Currently, global agrifood systems account for one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and is the single greatest cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss. Although there are on-going efforts in transforming food systems, significant scaling up is required to accelerate climate action. Sustainably catalysing agrifood system transformation requires a holistic approach that necessitates active participation by the younger generation. This participation spreads across various touch points of the value chain including policy formation, information and research, innovation and entrepreneurship, digitization and mechanisation among many others. Neglecting to involve and empower our youth means we’re falling short in our efforts to transform food systems