Profiling TFF Talents: UN Food Systems Summit Global Youth Dialogue

On May 4th, three global TFF representatives took part in a 2021 UN Food Systems Summit Global Youth Dialogue on the issue of “Good Food For All.” This Dialogue, one of the many activities surrounding the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021, gathered 100 youth representatives from around the world to discuss the future of our food systems and engage them in leading local dialogues in the next month. We’ve compiled the key takeaways from the TFF Ambassadors to share their insights with you!

Event Recap:

This Dialogue brought together youth advocates from across the globe who champion a range of issues in their local contexts – from agriculture to climate to education. The event started with welcome remarks from Deputy-Secretary General of the UN, Amina J. Mohammed, UN Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake, and an Indigenous Peoples Youth Leader from Mexico, Jessica Vega Ortega, among others. The interventions were followed by guest speakers answering the question “What does ‘good food’ mean to you?”. A truly heart-melting poem from the UN Refugee Agency Goodwill Ambassador Emi Mahmoud added truly emotional flourish to the event! The 2-hour-long live event had intense breakout room discussions in small groups on various aspects of the food systems at the personal, family, community, and global levels.

TFF Ambassadors in the UN Global Youth Summit Dialogue – Good Food For All:

Albert Kure, TFF Ambassador in Nigeria & 2018 TFF Challenge Winner, Carlos Castellanos, TFF Ambassador in Colombia & 2017 TFF Challenge Winner, and Mateusz Ciasnocha, TFF Ambassador based in Poland made Thought For Food shine at the UN Global Youth Summit Dialogue – Good Food For All.

Albert is a Nigeria-based entrepreneur, consultant, and anti-food waste advocate. He is the Regional Partnership and Sponsorship Lead of TFF in West Africa. Albert builds inclusive and sustainable food systems by identifying, connecting, and building relationships with key local partners, potential sponsors, and collaborators in the agri-food sector. He serves as Special Assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State strengthening systems and structures that support the development and implementation of viable programs and policies.

Carlos is an entrepreneur and activist. He co-founded Cultivando Futuro, an information system that transforms the way smallholder farmers around the world receive key information and the services they need to achieve their full potential. Cultivando Futuro facilitates the inclusion of smallholder farmers and contextualizes technology for the rural reality in developing countries while delivering new opportunities to farmers.

Mateusz Ciasnocha is a farmer based in Poland on a mission of putting farmers at the centre of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. To achieve that, Mateusz launched European Carbon Farmers to unleash the world’s greatest carbon capture and storage pool: healthy and living agricultural soil!

Main takeaways from our TFF Ambassadors:

Albert quoted Jessica Vega’s call, “We need to build stronger connections to the earth that feeds us” to stress the importance of collaboration across sectors and generations. As Albert recalled, the UN Food Systems Summit leaders reminded young people in the summit that “the younger generations march on with unbridled energy and we need them if we aim to build equitable, sustainable, and inclusive food systems to achieve zero hunger”.

“Food is much bigger than what is on your plate” – Amina J. Mohammed

Carlos summarized his thoughts with, “Good Food is everything”. Food goes beyond its transversal impact on our society by addressing social, sustainability, culture preservation, and education. Food systems play an important role in social conflicts by creating fair land tenure. Food should concern us all because it cements family bonds, spices up romantic dates, enhances business meetings, unlocks our fondest memories, and drives economic activities. It is culture, identity, love, and life.

“Success stories can be very powerful to transform our food systems for good. Peer to peer knowledge transfer can be more accessible and democratic than centralized knowledge”– Carlos Castellanos

Mateusz reminded us that while there are global food system challenges, each food system faces certain unique challenges. Gladly, challenges present opportunities for innovation, which is already happening on different levels. This brings a sense of optimism since we can transform food systems in line with the SDGs and planetary boundaries, said Mateusz.

“Food systems do not change just because we talk about them – what action can you take today to change your local, national, and/or global food system? – Mateusz Ciasnocha

👉 Call to Action:

Now onto you – share your thoughts and ideas on your local and regional food systems in our TFF Community platform on Discord!