The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture is advertised by the organisers as ' the world's award winning sustianable agriculture event'. There were indeed many innovative and interesting products on display, from vertical farming to glasses that enable farmers to see problems with their crops. But, was it really promoting sustainable agriculture? One major thing that was missing was a good number of young professionals. Again, we saw a desire for big names in the industry and few young innovative minds sharing new ideas.
One highlight was the roundtable session on youth and agriculture moderated by Thought for Food's Nadia Laurinci. Some valuable points that came out of the discussion include:
- Give youth a challenge to solve
- Perception is important. Instead of agriculture, try some new names to change perceptions, such as food production
- Personal connection and common purpose is important drivers of youth's decision on future careers.
- Policies are important for creating a supportive environment for youth in agriculture.
Again, there can be little sustainability in an agriculture that does not involve or engage youth!