World Food Forum 2024

A global call to transform agri-food systems for a sustainable future

Tempo di lettura: 5 min

🖊️Francesca Suriano

Ottobre 2024

The World Food Forum (WFF) 2024, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), convened over five transformative days in Rome, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders from policy, science, innovation, and youth action to confront global food challenges. With its theme, “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow,” the event aimed to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems. The WFF has established itself as a central platform for global dialogue, uniting youth leaders, scientists, policymakers, and investors around a shared vision of sustainable food futures.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu addresses the opening ceremony of the World Food Forum, highlighting the need for sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.

This year’s Forum focused on three key pillars: the Global Youth Action Forum, the Science and Innovation Forum, and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, each providing distinct avenues for action. Youth engagement remained at the heart of the WFF’s mission, with the Global Youth Action Forum offering workshops, discussions, and panels where young participants collaborated with experts to address issues such as hunger, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Their voices echoed in the halls of the FAO, demanding urgent attention to the crises that disproportionately affect future generations.

The Science and Innovation Forum spotlighted the latest technological advancements aimed at reshaping food systems. Innovators and researchers demonstrated how new tools, from AI-driven agriculture to alternative protein sources, are vital for addressing the challenges of resource scarcity and population growth. The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, meanwhile, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between governments, the private sector, and international organizations to channel investments into sustainable food systems, targeting the most vulnerable regions.

Cultural diversity was celebrated throughout the week, enriching the Forum’s global scope. Participants engaged in meaningful exchanges through moments like traditional meals, which offered windows into local cultures, and spaces dedicated to indigenous communities, allowing them to share invaluable insights on sustainability and traditional practices. This cultural showcase reflected the Forum’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

Inauguration of the Indigenous Nomadic Advocacy Tent, a space celebrating Indigenous knowledge and cultural exchange on sustainable food systems.

The closing ceremony was both reflective and forward-looking, emphasizing the collective achievements of the week while laying out a roadmap for future action. The remarks underscored the urgent need for intergenerational collaboration in tackling global food challenges. The introduction set the tone by celebrating the expansion of the Forum’s local impact, including the addition of 11 new national chapters, which highlighted the WFF’s growing grassroots influence.

Throughout the event, cultural expression was celebrated through a series of moving performances that added depth and emotion to the Forum’s discussions. Musicians from across the globe—from Malaysia to Burkina Faso, Egypt to Zimbabwe—performed pieces that resonated with themes of unity and resilience. Indian poet Parneet Kaur, founder of Poetry for Planets, shared heartfelt verses on gender equality and Indigenous rights, highlighting sustainability and cultural heritage. Each performance, in its unique way, bridged the gaps between policy and cultural expression, underscoring the Forum’s commitment to inclusivity and the diversity of perspectives.

Puti Ariani’s performance at the World Food Forum closing ceremony, spreading enthusiasm and showcasing her powerful voice.

The event also featured a retrospective video, tracing the evolution of the WFF since its inception in 2021. What began as a small, volunteer-led initiative has since grown into a global movement that brings together over 6,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The video celebrated the WFF’s journey, culminating in the 2024 edition, which saw unprecedented engagement from youth leaders, policy experts, and innovators alike.

Throughout the week, young leaders participated in 25 youth assemblies, presenting policy recommendations and showcasing over 50 youth-led innovation projects. These assemblies exemplified the role of youth not just as participants but as drivers of change, whose contributions are vital for transforming agri-food systems. The focus on collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation continued in sessions dedicated to addressing water scarcity, family farming, and indigenous food systems.

Young participants engaged in discussions on water scarcity in Rome Water Dialogue Youth Assembly.

Speakers at the closing ceremony repeatedly emphasized the vital role of young people in shaping the future of food. H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, stressed that global food security is under threat, with over 700 million people going hungry each night. He called the WFF a critical platform for fostering the innovation and resilience needed to ensure that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food. He urged the world to recognize that while the global food crisis is a present reality, future solutions must prioritize smallholder farmers, women, and young people.

H.E. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture of Thailand, echoed these sentiments, noting that the success of future food systems depends on today’s youth. Thailand’s commitment to sustainability and equity in its agri-food systems was showcased as a model for other nations, with an emphasis on intergenerational partnerships and technological innovation.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at the closing ceremony of the World Food Forum, reflecting on the event’s successes and the ongoing challenges for global food systems.

As the Forum came to a close, the FAO’s Director-General Qu Dongyu reflected on the critical role of collective action in driving global change. He emphasized the importance of science, innovation, and youth leadership in creating food systems that are resilient and equitable. His closing remarks celebrated the WFF’s accomplishments while underscoring that the work is far from over. The challenges facing global food systems demand sustained commitment and collaboration from all sectors of society.

With over 200 events and 1.7 billion people engaged through digital platforms, the WFF 2024 made clear that the transformation of food systems is not just possible but essential. The Forum’s closing ceremony left participants inspired and motivated to continue the journey toward a future where “good food for all” is not just a slogan but a reality.

As the global community looks ahead, the WFF stands as a beacon of hope, driven by the energy and creativity of young leaders determined to make sustainable, nutritious, and equitable food systems the norm for generations to come.

Future generations taking part in the Sustainable Fashion Workshop led by Food Hero Matteo Ward, learning firsthand how their choices can shape a more sustainable world.

Photo credits: FAO