Young professionals – meeting the needs of tomorrow’s agriculture

YPARD – the Young Professionals' Platform for Agricultural Research for Development is happy to announce its recent move to its new host, GFAR - the Global Forum for Agricultural Research, in Rome.  GFAR has been a long time supporter of YPARD from its beginning in 2005, throughout its development in championing the greater inclusion of young professionals in Agricultural Research for Development (ARD).  YPARD provides a global platform through which young professionals can express their ideas and be represented in key ARD policy debates.  With a member base of 2000 Young Professionals, it is a growing and dynamic network, now linking with other youth initiatives to increase the visibility and voice of young people in shaping the future of agriculture.  With an ageing agricultural sector and fewer young people entering the field, it is more important now, than ever, to support young professionals who bring innovation, fresh perspectives, new skills and knowledge to the ARD sector. 

YPARD and GFAR are working together to address issues of agricultural curriculum reform to create socially relevant agricultural education curricula which enable innovative careers and prepare young people to actively contribute to agriculture and their communities/countries. Building on GFAR’s convening power and mandate as the inclusive global forum fostering the transformation of agricultural research for development; YPARD will mobilize its constituency group to bring the perspectives of young people directly into this debate. Reforming agricultural curricula is also key to bringing young people back into agriculture, as an attractive and viable career option. This initiative is critical to addressing the future of ARD, the future of food security and the tenability of the entire global agricultural system.  To build a sustainable future, we must start with those who will be living it; the youth. 

This initiative is generously supported by the Swiss Agency of Development (SDC), the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation (DGIS), Leibniz University Hannover, Germany and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation ACP-EU (CTA).  As well as helping to mobilize these resources, GFAR Secretariat is now providing the administrative support essential for YPARD’s operations.
 

We are also pleased to welcome Courtney Paisley to the new role of YPARD Coordinator. With this step forward, Courtney will work to continue to build upon the successes of YPARD.  Her experience includes work in East Africa for the promotion of environmental education and renewable energy and in the agricultural research sector, at the World Agroforestry Centre, promoting the sharing of training materials within the CGIAR and the wider agricultural research community.  She received an MSc. from the University of Manchester in Environmental Governance and completed undergraduate studies in International Project Management and Environmental Studies.   She is an enthusiastic supporter of improved and dynamic agricultural curriculum development and the promotion of youth in agricultural research for development.  
 

More information on YPARD can be found on: www.ypard.net
 

More information on GFAR can be found on: egfar.org