Young people are shaping the future of food and farming, but they face big obstacles as well as real opportunities. That’s the message from a new Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report that looks at the lives of 1.3 billion youth aged 15 to 24 working in agrifood systems worldwide, according to a press release. The report, “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems,” lays out both the pressures and the possibilities for young people in farming, food production, and beyond.
A full 85 percent of the world’s youth live in lower-income countries, where agriculture is often at the core of family incomes. Bringing more young people into the sector could unlock up to $1 trillion for the global economy, the report says. Close to half of employed youth work in agrifood jobs—but there are huge differences between regions and income levels.
The report highlights some tough trends: food insecurity among youth is rising, especially in Africa, and over 20 percent of young people globally are not in work, school, or training, with young women hit hardest.
“The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems report provides a timely and evidence-based assessment of how decent jobs and food security for youth can be achieved through agrifood systems transformation, and how empowered youth can act as catalysts for broader agrifood systems transformation,” writes FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
To change this, the report urges governments and investors to expand social programs, improve training, and help youth access jobs both on and off the farm. It also points out big opportunities for rural youth, especially in Africa and Asia, if they get the right support and investment.
With climate threats and a growing global population ahead, the FAO’s findings make clear that investing in young people is essential for food security, stronger communities, and a thriving future for agriculture.
