“You prepare for months, then have to let go”

To create a more cohesive experience at this year’s World Food Forum in October, four master’s students representing HAFL and Switzerland co-organised a side event with 10 other national youth attendees from ETH Zurich, the Geneva Graduate Institute and several federal offices.

Food, Nutrition and Health MSc student Daphne Wabule and Agricultural Science MSc students Célia Bühler, Emerson Carias and Quentin à Hauariki were heavily involved in preparing the side event and shared their plans before leaving for Rome.
 

The theme of the World Food Forum was “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow” and the Swiss side event, held on World Food Day, was “Beyond the price tag: Let’s talk about the true cost of food.”

Guest speakers were Agathe Crosnier, a PhD graduate from EPFL who works on the project TRUE-COST-CH, and Aslihan Arslan, an economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) responsible for the FAO State of Food and Agriculture 2024 report.

What did the quartet think of the WFF and how did their side event go?

What was the best part of the WFF for you?

Célia: Our side event, of course! I was impressed to see how smoothly everything went, thanks to our careful preparation. As an organiser, it’s always the best – and at the same time most frightening – moment. You prepare for months, then have to let go. Your event is coming to life and the participants are co-owners. I loved our speakers’ inputs where I learned technical aspects of the True Cost of Food; they both shared their technical knowledge in an accessible way. Another great part, I would say, was our team spirit and work as the HAFL delegation. I was beyond proud to have such a competent, dedicated and funny crew. Because let’s be honest: you need to sprinkle all this work with a good dose of humour to survive the forum’s intensity and numerous sessions. It’s important to take our work seriously, but ourselves not too seriously.

Quentin: I particularly enjoyed the diversity of the topics covered. I found it really interesting (with my own background as an agronomist, which is more focused on production) to see the issues addressed by all the stakeholders present, only to find that production aspects play a minimal role in the discussions at this level and in this context. For example, access to land, particularly for women at a global level, was one aspect that was discussed but without any tangible solutions. I’m grateful to have had access to these discussions, which deal with pressing issues on a broader scale.

Daphne: The diversity of people, specialisations and ideas was immense. It was a good platform to learn about what other people were working on and the solutions they were coming up with, and to exchange ideas.

Emerson: Meeting the Guatemalan Minister of Agriculture and the Ambassador of Guatemala in Rome was a highlight, as it gave me the opportunity to share valuable insights about the coffee sector in Guatemala.

What feedback did you personally receive about your workshop?

Quentin: I heard from several participants that they particularly appreciated the subject and the quality of the panellists and their presentations. Indeed, Agathe and Aslihan were two extraordinary experts, perfectly linking the two generations, which is precisely what the World Food Forum wants to highlight. Daphne rounded off the women’s panel magnificently, introducing the subject and highlighting the take-home messages.

Daphne: We were told that the topic was well presented, the speakers were interesting and that the practical aspect was also well executed and engaging.

Emerson: Institutions are actively seeking evidence to redefine policies on food access and affordability. The importance of understanding the factors behind food pricing, as well as the viability of food production in the future, was a key takeaway. This also raised questions about the livelihoods of those in the food production industry.

Celia: It wasn’t feedback as such, but information – we had more than 120 attendees at the side event! I think this shows the interest in the True Cost of Food topic. Several people told us that it was one of the best side events they attended, and one participant highlighted that, for once, there was scientific and technical substance to the two speakers’ presentations, which was sometimes lacking at other side events. People also enjoyed the mix of inputs and interactive parts. Swiss people also enjoyed connecting thanks to our side event.
 

What surprised you about the conference?

Daphne: For our side event, I was surprised by how big the turnout was, and how engaged the people were with the topic. However, I did note that most of the people who attended were linked with European institutes/delegations; so, I could say the conversation was not as diverse as it could have been. For the whole WFF, I was let down by how few nutrition-specific sessions there were, especially considering that this is a primary reason we grow food. I think future events could benefit more from not focusing mainly on commercialising agriculture but also discussing the nutritional challenges that are still a major challenge globally.

Emerson: I was pleasantly surprised that, even though our participation does not yet directly influence governance, the WFF provided a strong platform for youth voices to be heard. Step by step, I believe that our contributions will demonstrate our capacity and eventually earn us a seat at the table.

Célia: I was positively surprised by the Youth Assembly opening ceremony. The panel was gender-balanced and with young people who were allocated speaking time and truly involved for their expertise. I heard some bold statements, which is unusual in contexts like this.

Quentin: I was really surprised by the number of participants! The day before our side event and on the same day, I attended several presentations in the same room, which had between 20 and 60 participants at most, filling half or even two thirds of the room. Shortly before our workshop started, the room was already full to bursting, while people continued to enter, attending the event standing in the corners of the room. Having around 120 people attend the event, both in the room and online, was a really nice surprise.

What was the best message you heard from the event, as a whole?
 

Célia: I heard this a few times during the week, but the first time was from Andile Mnguni at the opening of the Youth Assembly. Essentially the message said that we are privileged to be here and that it’s our responsibility to speak for those who couldn’t come, but also to advocate and fight for a more diverse representation of youth, including gender equality and social justice. There are some very concrete barriers to participation – such as financial resources, visa issues, or language – but also broader ones, such as understanding the dynamics of diplomatic and political aspects, feeling out of place or like they don’t belong, and insufficient access to information. Overall, there is a lack of rural youth representation, and we should do our best to enable “real” rural young people to join those circles – not only practically, but also to make it appealing to them. As privileged young people engaged in those discussions, we should reach out to others and start a dialogue. Because, as Martijn Sonnevelt, Executive Director at ETH Zurich’s World Food System Center, said, “It’s easier for us to let the emails pile up and reply later than it is for them to milk the cows another day.”

Daphne: The need to address structural issues collectively is important to allow for long-term change and ideas from different backgrounds.

Emerson: The emphasis on agrifood systems that prioritise livelihoods resonated with me, beyond just focusing on access to land. The need to empower young farmers today so they can be the leaders of tomorrow was a message that stood out.

Quentin: One speech that particularly struck me was from Michael Taylor, Director of the International Land Coalition Office at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He highlighted three key messages from the themes he’s working on:

• Redistribution reforms: With 1% of farms owning 70% of the farmlands, it is essential to redistribute this land to ensure fair access to land. However, its application seems to be quite challenging.
• Women’s land rights: 75% of the world’s countries do not guarantee women access to land. Worldwide, only 20% of women own land, even though they make up more than half of smallholder farmers.
• Secure commons for family farms by providing family farming systems with a work tool adapted to their needs.

These facts, clearly presented, opened my eyes to a new perspective on world agriculture that I hadn’t considered before.
 

What are the next steps?

Emerson: I aim to strengthen the idea of creating a Youth FAO Assembly Chapter in Guatemala.

Daphne: I am keeping in contact with a few of the individuals I met and exchanged ideas with. I will also be keeping an eye on the policy implementation for some of the forums I attended, particularly from the Africa Regional Youth Assembly.

Célia: So far, we’ve met with Zenebe Uraguchi and Luzius Thomi to highlight what was achieved, present our propositions, and advocate for the institutionalisation of HAFL participation at the WFF. We would like to capitalise on our efforts so that our successors can build on this base and not have to start all over again. This is also important to maintain and expand the created network. We also presented YPARD and what was done at the WFF at the SFIAR meeting on 18 November. On 4 December, we will conduct a hybrid Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) at HAFL about YPARD and our experiences at the WFF. And before the end of the year, we will write a short report on the WFF and write guidelines and tips to organise a side event for our successors (hopefully!). Mid-term goals include ongoing discussions with different stakeholders to discuss the establishment of a Swiss network for young people in agrifood systems (consultation going on with FOAG and FAO Geneva). The form it should take is still not defined. The two key steps for now are to identify existing structures where young people are already organised and supported for their engagement in food systems; and to conduct a consultation to know the needs of young people and propose something in line with their demands. We will also provide Zenebe with two to three project proposal pitches. The idea is that the Institute would support us in approaching donors – we already have two concrete ideas for proposals. Then we will organise a joint webinar between YPARD and FAO Geneva, and organise a joint workshop between HAFL, YPARD and International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) at their World Congress in Italy and Switzerland from 7–22 July 2025.

Quentin: On 30 October, some people from the HAFL delegation attended the ETH Food Day and had a reunion with our ETH Zurich colleagues. The Brown Bag Lunch will be another good opportunity to share our experiences. Finally, within the group, we are discussing a way of making the most of the knowledge we acquired and the gaps that were raised during the event. This remains hypothetical and time dependent, but it could take the form of a project we would draft.
 

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

Quentin: I think, one of the things I liked most was the collegial spirit in our HAFL group, but also with the students from ETH and the Graduate Institute with whom we met on site. After long days of lectures, listening to experts talk about various topics, we found ourselves debriefing for hours on what we had seen and heard, each with our own points of view, depending on our backgrounds. It was a truly enriching experience, and I’m sincerely grateful for having had the chance to take part in it!

Daphne: The food in the city was really amazing, especially the pizza!

Célia: I am always amazed by Emerson’s ability to make his way to important people and incredible opportunities. He is smart, strategic, and handles this all in a relaxed manner and with a remarkable sense of humour. For example, we were in the queue at the FAO restaurant and Emerson recognised two people from the official Guatemala delegation. He approached and they invited him to an official delegation’s meeting in the afternoon – this meeting was in fact a small meeting of 10 people with Guatemala’s Minister of Agriculture, Maynor Estrada Rosales! Emerson could talk to him and share his concerns about young people in the coffee sector in his home country. Difficult to get a more direct line for advocacy! As a joke, I told him that he won the networking medal of the week.

Emerson: One of the memorable moments was connecting with people deeply involved in the same work, who even know people I’m close to, despite being from different countries. Discussing topics related to my home country in such an international space was incredible! As a coffee farmer, it was thrilling to attend a side event where Guatemalan sustainable coffee was highlighted.
 

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Find out more from the group at their Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday 4 December from 12:00-13:00 in Room B.3.09 and online (email Angela Wade if you would like the Teams link sent to you on Tuesday morning).

Access the True Cost of Food Miro created for the side event. It’s open to the public, and updated when new information is available: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVLSvoluE=/

Access the FAO State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2024 report: https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/5c02d590-5016-4cde-90f3-44619864d221

Access an interactive story on the hidden health costs (part of the SOFA 2024 report): https://www.fao.org/interactive/state-of-food-agriculture/en/

Read the ETH Zurich article about its students’ experiences as co-organisers of the side event: ETH Researchers join the World Food Forum – World Food System Center | ETH Zurich


Interview by Angela Wade