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Cultivating a revolution in
agriculture for young people
Danielle Nierenberg, President, Food Tank
T
here’s a revolution taking place among youth in rural
– and even urban – areas around the world. For
the first time, many young people are excited about
being involved in agriculture and the food system. Instead of
abandoning farms and generations of farming, many are not
only picking up hoes, but also learning the skills to become
agronomists, extension agents, food scientists, academics,
food business leaders, chefs and cooks, and food entrepre-
neurs. They see the food system as an opportunity, not a
burden. And they’re looking to solve some of the world’s
most pressing social problems – unemployment, conflict,
climate change – through food and farming.
There’s no question that agriculture is at a turning point. Nearly
1 billion people go to bed hungry each night while another
approximately 1.5 billion are overweight or obese; an astound-
ing 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted each year; some 2 billion
people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies; non-commu-
nicable diseases, many related to diet, including heart disease
and diabetes, afflict millions of people worldwide; and climate
change is expected to have the worst impacts – including
drought, increased temperatures and flooding – in the world’s
poorest nations which are least able to handle these problems.
Farmers are also ageing all over the world. Globally, the
average age of farmers is around 55 years; in Europe, one-
third of farmers are under 35; in South Africa, the average
of farmers is 62 years; and in the United States 50 per cent
of farmers are 55 years or older. Youth continue to migrate
to cities in massive numbers, leaving agriculture and their
communities behind.
Engaging youth today and future generations in farming
and the food system is more important than ever before for
environmental sustainability, food security, social stability
and economic viability. It’s time to cultivate the next genera-
tion of food system leaders – the professional producers,
thinkers and doers who can create a more sustainable food
system that nourishes people and planet.
In rich and poor countries alike, youth confront barriers to
jobs and careers in agriculture. According to the International
Labour Organization of the United Nations, there are at least
In rich and poor countries alike, youth confront barriers to jobs and careers in agriculture
Image: Bernard Pollack
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