Africa’s ability to expand food production, agro-processing and agricultural trade will depend partly on how effectively governments address young people’s access to finance, land, technology and markets, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has said.
The organisation says the continent must move beyond treating agriculture as a traditional livelihood and position it as a commercially viable sector capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and supporting industrialisation.
Dr Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, made the call at a World Food Forum (WFF) flagship session on youth leadership in agrifood systems transformation in Rome, Italy.
The session, titled “Leading from the Front: Africa’s Youth Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation,” brought together young leaders, policymakers, financial institutions, researchers and development partners to explore ways to strengthen youth participation in the sector.
Dr Haile-Gabriel said more than 60% of Africa’s population was below 25 years, making the continent’s youthful population a strategic resource for expanding food production, processing, distribution and innovation.
He said unlocking that potential would require deliberate investments in young people’s capabilities and the creation of business opportunities across the entire agrifood value chain.
“The future of agri-food systems will be determined by creativity, talent, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of the young women and men who produce, process, trade, and innovate across the entire food system,” he said.
He noted that agriculture was increasingly becoming knowledge-intensive, technology-driven and innovation-led, requiring young people not only to adopt new technologies but also to develop and scale solutions suited to local production and market conditions.
Dr Haile-Gabriel identified investment in knowledge, skills and innovation, the development of viable youth-led business models and an enabling environment for youth participation in policymaking and investment decisions as key priorities.
He said young people needed access to quality education, technical and vocational training, digital competencies, entrepreneurship development and financial literacy, supported by stronger links between education, research and industry.
However, he stressed that skills and entrepreneurial ambition alone would not be sufficient without access to affordable finance, land, infrastructure, technology, markets, mentorship and business networks.
He called for the development of profitable, technology-enabled and market-oriented enterprises in agricultural technology, digital services, agro-processing, logistics, climate-smart agriculture and green jobs.
Dr Haile-Gabriel said young people must also have meaningful opportunities to influence policies, programmes and investments affecting the future of Africa’s food systems.
He said the FAO was working with governments, regional institutions, development partners and youth organisations to strengthen youth engagement across the continent.
He cited youth-focused engagements associated with the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa in Mauritania as part of efforts to bring young people into discussions on innovation, employment and investment.
He also highlighted the Africa Forum on Science and Innovation for Agri-Food Systems, scheduled for October 27 to 29 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as another platform expected to bring together young innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs.
The FAO official welcomed the establishment of 13 additional WFF national youth chapters in Africa, bringing the continent’s total to 33.
He said the chapters could help young people exchange ideas, establish cross-border partnerships and contribute to solutions addressing the continent’s agrifood challenges.
Ms Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, WFF Ghana National Chapter Lead, called for stronger support for youth-led initiatives and more structured opportunities for young Africans to contribute to agricultural development.
Speaking on behalf of WFF national chapters across Africa, she highlighted initiatives involving digital education, training for rural women farmers, climate-smart agriculture, organic fertiliser production from waste, research and policy engagement.
She said youth participation should extend across specialised areas of the agrifood value chain, including crop nutrition, crop protection, agricultural inputs, marketing, agricultural services and post-harvest loss management.
Ms Akosa also called for the establishment of agrarian academies to equip young people with specialised knowledge and practical skills to support agricultural production and value addition.
She said stronger coordination between the WFF and national institutions would be necessary to build effective pathways for young people to lead agrifood transformation.
Ms Akosa participated in a panel discussion alongside Orlando Sosa, FAO Representative ad interim in Ethiopia; Dr Hillary Emmanuel Musoke, Senior Presidential Adviser on Agribusiness and Value Addition Development; and Dr Delfina Hlashwayo.
The 2026 WFF flagship event, held at the FAO headquarters in Rome from October 8 to 16 under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” brought together participants from 189 countries.
The event provided a platform for young people, policymakers, scientists, investors and development partners to exchange ideas and develop solutions to food security and agrifood systems challenges.
