Youth Organizations

Recent projections from FAO state that in the next 40 years the world’s population will increase from 7 billion to over 10 billion. At the same time, agriculture is an ageing and undervalued profession for which there is a declining interest among young people. Who will feed this growing population and how? 

In order to tackle this issue, GFAR believes that youth, as key stakeholders in the future of AR4D, must be involved. Young professionals face numerous challenges including making their voices heard and exerting influence in the field of AR4D. Lack of youth involvement in AR4D has negative implications for the sector, reducing the potential for innovation, use of new communication technologies, inclusivity and future sustainability. In response to this on the 8th of November 2006, during the triennial conference of the GFAR, in New Delhi, India: the Young Professional’s Platform for Agricultural Research for Development was officially launched and it is now hosted by the GFAR Secretariat.

Special attention must be given to encouraging young people into careers in all aspects of AR4D. It is important that young people themselves help express what changes are needed in agricultural education and incentives to make careers more attractive and valued and better recognize the range of roles now required in AR4D.