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Future proofing farming for youth - episode 47

28 August 2023
© IFAD/Ibrahima Kebe Diallo

The future of farming belongs to rural youth. In this episode, we explore how to enhance productivity and empower young farmers.

We chat with Rahul Antao, IFAD's youth expert, about inspiring young people in agriculture. Mollie Brennan shares insights from the Decent Work for Equitable Food Systems Coalition. Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, explains food system opportunities for young farmers while Jaron Porciello, Co-Director of Hesat2030, discusses AI's role in food systems.

Recipes for Change Chef, Chef Colonna, teaches us how to combine farm-fresh ingredients with gourmet flavors. Finally, we'll hear from IFAD’s Agricultural Research for Development Unit which is dedicated to bringing lab research into the field.

 

 

Episode content

 

Rahul Antao, A systems-based approach for the development of rural youth

Rahul Antao, Youth expert at IFAD

Rahul Antao, IFAD’s Youth expert, discusses the challenges rural youth face under the current economic climate. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on young people's employment, with disruptions in education and supply chains leading to increased social exclusion and job losses for young agribusinesses.

 

Mollie Brennan, The Decent Work for Equitable Food Systems Coalition

Mollie Brennan

Mollie Brennan tells us about the new Decent Work for Equitable Food Systems Coalition that focuses on working poverty, food insecurity, poor health and safety conditions, and lack of labour and social protection for food system workers.

 

Federica Emma, The effects of Grassroots Approach on projects

The Grassroots Approach engages youth as key partners in implementing field operations and governance processes. Governments and IFAD have successfully collaborated with young people in initiatives like the Rural Youth Alliance in Colombia, highlighting the need for more institutionalized engagement and empowering youth to be agents of change.

 

Genna Tesdall, Opportunities for young farmers in food systems

Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YIPARD)

Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, Genna Tesdall, emphasizes that youth engagement starts with policy change and creating opportunities for young people in the food system sector.

 

Jaron Porciello, The future of AI in food systems

Jaron Porciello

Hesat2030 is a global partnership to end hunger sustainably. Jaron Porciello tells us about how AI has already made its mark in the agricultural sector provides hope for responsible AI development.

 

Chef Antonello Colonna, Connecting territory and roots with entrepreneurial vision

Chef Antonello Colonna

Chef Colonna, the latest Recipes for Change Chef, promotes IFAD’s work on sustainable food systems.

 

Amine Belhamissi and Viviane Filippi, Taking agricultural research out of the lab and into the farm

Amine Belhamissi and Viviane Filippi

The Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D), is an IFAD team working to take agricultural research out of the lab and onto the farm. Amine Belhamissi and Viviane Filippi discuss how agricultural research has expanded beyond increasing production to encompass areas such as nutrition, sustainable resource management, and market access.

In our next episode, we focus on nutrition with a fascinating report on obesity in developing countries.

Summing up

Thanks to our producer, Francesco Manetti, and our reporters, Nour Bona, Rosa Gonzalez and Maurizio Navarra.

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Previous episodes to enjoy

  • Listen to Episode 44 for more on what can be done to stem water scarcity in the Near East and North Africa.
  • Episode 45 is all about Small Island Developing States.
  • In Episode 46 we talked about the power of sending money home to help development.