19 May, 2021

The successful United Nations Independent Dialogue hosted by Hincks Centre’s Catriona Fenton and supported by the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) brought together 27 attendees from nine countries.

The four panellists of agri-entrepreneurs and young farmers from across Europe shared their experience and discussed the support young farmers need to create a sustainable food system.

Created by young people for young people the Dialogue highlighted youth voices, in particular those of young farmers within the UN Food Systems Summit.

Sustainable food systems help support SDG 2 - Zero Hunger, and can help the world achieve critical progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The dialogue focused on the Food System Summit Action Track 1: Access to safe and nutritious food for all and Action Track 3: Boost nature positive production. The Action Tracks are aligned with the Summits five objectives.

The four panellists were:

• Samuel Masse, President of the European Council of Young Farmers (farmer and entrepreneur);
• Dr Siobhán Walsh, Irish Farmers Journal Farm Sustainability Specialist (and farmer)
• Dr Diarmuid McSweeney of More Grass Ireland & Grasshopper (innovator and entrepreneur) and
• Amy-Jo Reid, a young farmer from Scotland.

The dialogue raised some very interesting points and ideas, including:

• The importance of innovation in farming practices;
• Open mindedness and adaptability to creative sustainable solutions and 
• Intergenerational learning.

The feedback from the Independent Dialogue will be published on the Food System Summit website and submitted to the Food Systems Summit Secretariat.